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Germany updates: Protestors derail AfD leader's interview – DW – 07/20/2025

Germany updates: Protestors derail AfD leader's interview – DW – 07/20/2025

DW2 days ago
Far-right leader Alice Weidel's big "summer interview" was disrupted by raucous demonstrators. Meanwhile, a dispute dividing the country's ruling coalition will not go away. Follow DW for more.
Bundestag President Julia Klöckner says Germany's lower house of parliament is under constant cyberattack.
On Sunday, she called for beefed-up cyber defenses as well as expanded rights for parliamentary police when screening visitors.
Meanwhile, Vice Chancellor Lars Klingbeil is pushing to revive a postponed Bundestag vote on law professor Frauke Brosius-Gersdorf's controversial nomination to Germany's top court.
Also in Berlin, Alternative for Germany (AfD) leader Alice Weidel found herself unable to hear the questions during a prime-time interview when rowdy protestors broke out into song and dance below where they were filming.Alice Weidel, one of the co-chairs of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD), was due to give the big "summer interview" that the leaders of the country's main political parties traditionally give to public broadcaster ARD.
However, as she was preparing to begin the question and answer session on a terrace in Berlin's government quarter, demonstrators arrived nearby.
Breaking out into loud singing, dancing, and chanting, they made it extremely difficult for Weidel to hear the questions she was being asked.
She pressed interviewer Markus Preiss to continue despite the difficulty, resulting in what Preiss described as an "acoustically difficult situation."
"At points we really couldn't understand each other," he said afterward.
The European Commission is preparing to ban combustion engine vehicles for company fleets and rental car providers starting in 2030 — a move that some in the industry say would hit Germany's auto market especially hard.
According to , the plan would affect about 60% of all new vehicle sales across the EU, with only 40% of the market made up of private buyers. In 2023, 10.6 million vehicles were sold EU-wide.
The Commission intends to present the proposal by late summer and launch the legislative process. Approval by both the EU Council and European Parliament will be required. A Commission spokesperson confirmed work on the regulation but declined to provide details.
German voices are already pushing back. European lawmaker Markus Ferber, from Bavaria's conservative Christian Social Union, urged Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to scrap the plan. In a letter seen by Bild, he warned that fleet operators would be forced to buy only electric vehicles to meet quotas.
Rental firm Sixt board member Nico Gabriel called the measure unrealistic. "Vacationers will hardly use rental cars anymore, and consumers will barely be able to lease vehicles," he said, pointing to a lack of charging infrastructure across the EU. Other rental firms told Bild they expect prices to rise as a result.
Chancellor-designate Lars Klingbeil of the Social Democratic Party (SPD) is standing by the nomination of Frauke Brosius-Gersdorf to the Federal Constitutional Court and has called for a repeat of the judge election in the Bundestag.
Speaking to , Klingbeil said alleged plagiarism concerns raised by the opposition had been addressed, adding: "We can now put the vote back on the Bundestag agenda."
The Christian Democratic Union/Christian Social Union (CDU/CSU) remains cautious. "We are not under time pressure and will discuss this calmly within the coalition," a parliamentary group spokesperson told the newspaper. They added that plagiarism was never the main issue, saying: "There are fundamental, substantive concerns within the parliamentary group."
Brosius-Gersdorf has become the focus of a rare political clash over appointments to Germany's highest court. The CDU/CSU initially approved her nomination alongside two other candidates, but last Friday abruptly withdrew its support and urged the SPD to drop her candidacy.
Opponents of the nominee, a law professor, have cited her perceived liberal views, with some media portraying her as "ultra-left" views on issues such as abortion.
Brosius-Gersdorf insists her opinions have been misrepresented, accusing the media of "inaccurate and incomplete, unobjective and non-transparent" reporting.
Klingbeil framed the controversy as a test of principle. "It's a fundamental question of whether we yield to pressure from far-right networks that have smeared a highly qualified woman," he told the newspaper.
Julia Klöckner also called for a new parliamentary police law to better protect the Bundestag and politicians against potential physical attacks — specifically when it comes to ID checks among visitors to the popular institution.
Currently, says Klöckner, domestic security services cannot share information about an individual visitor's criminal records or threat potential with Bundestag police, a situation she blasted as "absurd."
Germany's Bundestag is the most-visited parliament in the world according to Klöckner, with more than 2 million citizens attending sessions each year.
A female brown bear, known as JJ4 or Gaia, that killed a jogger in Italy in 2023 has been relocated to a wildlife sanctuary in Germany.
The move follows legal battles and protests, after the bear — originally set to be euthanized — became the center of a debate over human-wildlife conflict.
Read more about the story here.
Bundestag President Julia Klöckner, speaking with German press agency DPA, called for increased defensive capabilities at the country's parliament, saying it is under constant attack.
"We are recording numerous hacker attacks… the Bundestag is a prime target," said Klöckner, whose position as president of the body is similar to that of the speaker in many other countries.
"We will have to boost our capacity to resist against cyberattacks," she said in remarks to be published Sunday.
"If the German Bundestag were to be shutdown during the reading of a bill or a vote, for example, and deadlines could not be met… that would be a triumph for hackers," said Klöckner. "Defending ourselves against this has to do with the stabilization and resilience of our democracy," not only the protection of the parliament.
The last overhaul of the system was prompted by a May 2015 cyberattack in which the computers of numerous parliamentarians — and even Chancellor Angela Merkel — were infected with spyware.
Five years later, Merkel announced that an investigation had turned up "hard evidence" of Russian involvement.
Russia was also accused of being behind a 2023 cyberattack on the email accounts of then-Chancellor Olaf Scholz's Social Democratic Party (SPD). It remains unknown who was behind a 2024 cyberattack on the headquarters of Klöckner's own Christian Democratic Union (CDU) party.
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German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul has warned the United States against escalating the tariff war with the European Union (EU).
"This would lead to everything becoming more expensive for consumers in the USA," he told the newspaper. "The European Union is not defenseless."
Wadephul insisted that EU member states were standing together and that he didn't fear an end to the resistance.
"Indeed, there are states which are demanding more stringency and toughness than Germany thinks is right," he said.
Wadephul reiterated the German government's belief that "the complete dismantling of all tariffs" is the preferred approach, and that "we can reach a positive agreement with the USA through negotiation."
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He said that Chancellor Friedrich Merz is heavily involved in the discussions, saying: "Germans can count on the fact that there is a chancellor standing up for our interests and European interests in Washington."
After the new German government resumed deportations to Afghanistan this week, Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul has floated a similar approach for Syria – despite the current unrest in the war-torn country.
"It's possible that, in future, Syrians who have committed criminal offenses [could be] deported," he told the newspaper. "I think that's possible in principle – provided the country develops in [the right] direction."
Southern Syria has been rocked by violence again this week, with the new Islamist-led regime in Damascus struggling to prevent clashes between Druze and Bedouin factions in Sweida and powerless to stop Israeli intervention. Hundreds of people have reportedly been killed.
"We are watching Syria with concern," said Wadephul, calling on the interim government under Ahmed al-Sharaa to ensure that all sections of the population and all religious groups can co-exist.
"No-one should have to fear for life and limb," he said. "But as it stands, we are of the opinion that we have to give this interim government a chance."
Germany spectacularly reached the semi-final of the Women's Euro 2025 on Saturday night, beating France 6-5 on penalties despite having been reduced to ten players for the majority of the evening.
Kathrin Hendrich was sent off in the 13th minute for tugging on an opponent's hair in the penalty area, after which Grace Geyoro gave France the lead from the penalty spot. But Sjoeke Nüsken headed Germany level just nine minutes later.
What followed was 100 minutes of defensive attrition from Germany to somehow reach extra-time and then penalties, where goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger was the heroine.
Germany will face Spain in the semifinal on Wednesday. The other semifinal sees defending champions England play Italy.
Read DW's full match report here.
German police on Saturday shot dead a man who had fired shots at passersby and neighboring buildings in the small town of Leonberg, just west of the city of Stuttgart in the southwestern state of Baden-Württemberg.
Local police and state prosecutors said the 44-year-old German man had indiscriminately fired shots from the second floor of his house, fortunately injuring nobody.
When armed police entered his apartment, he reportedly threatened officers with his weapon and was subsequently shot.
Police secured the weapon which turned out to be a non-lethal gas pistol. Whether or not this was the weapon used to fire the shots from the house was not immediately clear.
The state criminal police office (LKA) is also investigating the police's use of firearms in the operation.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Saturday honored the Central Council of Jews in Germany for its role in society on the 75th anniversary of its founding.
"Jewish life is a part of us," wrote Merz on the messaging platform X, adding that the organization reminds everyone in the country of something "that should be obvious: Germany must be a safe space for Jews."
Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier also honored the day, saying that he was "deeply thankful" that the organization's first leaders had determined to "rebuild Jewish life in Germany in the aftermath of the Shoah ."
Steinmeier said that beyond not letting Germany forget the crimes of its Nazi past and fighting antisemitism, the Central Council of Jews in Germany served as "an important driving force behind the democratic development of German society after 1945."
The institution, which functions as Germany's main political, societal and religious representative for Jews in the country, was founded on July 19, 1950, in Frankfurt — just five years after the end of World War II and the industrial-scale murder of more than six million European Jews at the hands of Germany's Nazi dictatorship.
Today the council comprises some 105 communities and associations, and 100.000 individual members.To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video
A majority of Germans have opposed banning the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD), according to a new poll.
The survey by the Allensbach Institute, published Saturday by , found that 52% of respondents reject a ban on the party, while 27% support it. In eastern Germany, two-thirds of those surveyed said they were against such a move.
According to the researchers, one key reason is that many Germans know AfD supporters personally. In the West, 67% said they had AfD sympathizers in their social circles; in the East, that figure rose to 88%. While 54% of respondents described the AfD as far-right, only 5% viewed their acquaintances who back the party in the same way.
Another factor behind the opposition to a ban is mistrust toward the parties advocating it. Many respondents suspect those parties are mainly trying to eliminate a political rival that has grown too strong.
The idea of a ban is divisive within Germany's governing coalition. The center-left Social Democratic Party voted unanimously at its June 29 party congress to prepare proceedings and called for a federal-state working group. The center-right Christian Democratic Union/Christian Social Union has pushed back, citing steep legal hurdles and urging a focus on political argument.
Two parties have been banned in (West) Germany, an openly neo-Nazi party in 1952 and the Communist Party (KPD) in 1956.
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Around half of eligible voters in Germany have said they agree with the federal government's view that Russia poses a danger to the country, according to a new YouGov poll for Germany's DPA news agency.
The survey found that 13% see a very serious military threat from Moscow, while 36% consider it a significant one. By contrast, 30% say Russia poses only a minor threat, and 14% see no threat at all.
The divide is sharp along political party lines. Among supporters of the conservative CDU/CSU bloc, center-left Social Democrats, and the Greens, 58–62% view Russia as a major or very serious threat.
About one-third of these party groups see little or no danger.
The picture flips among far-right Alternative for Germany voters, where 65% say there is little or no military threat from Russia, while 29% see one.
Among supporters of the populist left Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance, only 33% see a threat, while 51% do not.
Supporters of the socialist Left party are evenly split — 48% see a threat, 47% do not.
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German consumers are paying more for meat — and prices are still climbing this summer.
And while retail costs rise, producers of Germany's favorite meat, pork, face falling returns.
According to the Agricultural Market Information Company (AMI) in Bonn, average discount supermarket prices for a 400-gram pack of minute steaks increased by 30 cents in early July, from €3.49 to €3.79 ($4.06 to $4.41). The price for coarse pork sausages rose from €2.59 to €2.89, and a 550-gram pack of chicken schnitzel went up 30 cents to €6.26.
Meat and meat product prices have steadily risen in recent years. The Federal Statistical Office reports that, by June, they were on average 31.7% higher than in 2020.
Poultry had risen by more than 45%, and minced beef by over 68%. The German Meat Industry Association cites several causes: general inflation, rising feed costs, wage increases, and energy policy impacts.
Beef has become scarcer in Germany. According to the industry association, more farms are ending cattle production, citing regulatory pressure and uncertainty about future farming standards. The result has been shrinking herds.
Meanwhile, poultry consumption is rising.
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German media have begun scrutinizing the government's latest deportation flights to Afghanistan, questioning whether the men truly fit the label of dangerous criminals.
One of the 81 men deported on Friday was Haroon I., 27, who was escorted from a facility in Pforzheim under heavy police presence late on Thursday.
Footage of the scene, obtained by , shows the emotional moment.
The report said the man was a convicted cannabis dealer who had already served his sentence. People close to him say he had been rebuilding his life and was well on his way to integrating into German society.
said that Haroon had strong German, was living with his partner, a German woman, had a job and was a member of his community. He also had little connection to Afghanistan with most of his family having left the country.
The convoy was guarded by police in balaclavas who kept back friends and supporters.
Pforzheim was one of the departure points for the new round of deportations to Afghanistan ordered by Germany's centrist coalition. A plane carrying the men left Leipzig airport early on Friday.
The government has said it is delivering on a campaign pledge to deport people to Afghanistan and Syria, starting with criminals and people posing a perceived risk.
After the deportations, the United Nations said no one should be returned to Afghanistan, regardless of their legal status.
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Ukraine: EU concerned about Kyiv's anti-corruption bodies – DW – 07/22/2025
Ukraine: EU concerned about Kyiv's anti-corruption bodies – DW – 07/22/2025

DW

time4 hours ago

  • DW

Ukraine: EU concerned about Kyiv's anti-corruption bodies – DW – 07/22/2025

Ukrainian lawmakers voted to strip two anti-corruption bodies of their independence. This could impede Ukraine's progress toward the EU, which has already expressed concern about the move. DW has the European Union's enlargement commissioner criticized a vote in the Ukrainian parliament to strip two anti-corruption bodies of their independence. Marta Kos stressed that the independence of he National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and an anti-graft prosecutor's office were "essential for Ukraine's EU path." Meanwhile, Ukraine's Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko said in an interview that she is likely to discuss a fresh loan program with the IMF next month. Ukraine and Russia are scheduled to hold the third round of peace talks in Istanbul on European Union's enlargement commissioner criticised a vote in the Ukrainian parliament to strip two anti-corruption bodies of independence. "Seriously concerned over today's vote in the Rada. The dismantling of key safeguards protecting NABU's independence is a serious step back," Marta Kos wrote on X, in reference to the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine. Kos stressed that the independence of the agency and an anti-graft prosecutor's office were "essential for Ukraine's EU path." Kyiv has been adamant to accelerate its membership in the bloc, especially since the 2022 Russian invasion. Ukraine's lawmakers voted in favor of amendments that would remove the independence of two anti-corruption bodies in the country. The National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) is the entity investigating corruption allegations within state institutions. The Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO) prosecutes corruption cases. Both NABU and SAPO were placed under the direct supervision of the Prosecutor General, who is appointed by the president. This comes a day after a NABU employee was arrested on suspicion of spying for Russia. The move triggered criticism both at home and internationally, with the EU saying it was "concerned" with the decision. Ukrainian NGO The Anti-Corruption Action Center said the amendments made the two agencies meaningless, adding the country's Prosecutor General "will stop investigations into" President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's "friends." France's top diplomat, Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot, visited the Ukrainian border region of Kharkiv in the northeastern part of the country on Tuesday. While walking through Kharkiv's city center, Barrot witnessed the current situation in the city, which is regularly being targeted by Russia, whose forces are some 30 kilometers away. Speaking during his visit, Barrot accused Russia of "deliberately" targeting civilians and residential areas, in a bid to "undermine Ukrainian morale." 1.4 million people lived in Kharkiv before Russia's full-scale invasion into Ukraine in 2022. As Russia steps up its attacks on Ukraine, the Kremlin is once again seeking help from North Korea. South Korean intelligence reports that the country has already sent Russia 28,000 containers filled with weapons and artillery shells. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Ukraine's delegation for the peace talks with Russia will be headed by the country's ex-Defense Minister and current secretary of the security council Rustem Umerov, President Volodymyr Zelensky said. The talks are scheduled to take place on Wednesday in Istanbul, in the same venue where previous talks between the two sides took place, with the Kremlin saying that there is no reason to expect a "miraculous breakthrough" in the talks. This comes after US President Donald Trump's threat to impose "severe" sanctions on Russia should a ceasefire agreement with Ukraine not be reached in 50 days. A 10-year-old boy was killed in Russian airstrikes on Ukraine, the authorities in the city of Kramatorsk say. According to city mayor Alexander Goncharenko, guided glide bombs launched by Russia hit a residential building in Kramatorsk, located in eastern Ukraine. The city is located in the area of Donetsk that remains under Ukrainian control three years after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Glide bombs have a range of up to 40 kilometers (25 miles), and their use by the Russian army is made possible by the front moving closer and closer to Kramatorsk. Ukraine's new Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko said she will likely seek fresh financing from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to cushion the country's fiscal needs in its defense against Russia's war, according to a report by Bloomberg. The report outlined that global donors have so far only earmarked half of the estimated $75 billion (€64.2 billion) budget that the war-strained country requires over the next two years. With the IMF's roughly $16 billion loan program set to expire in 2027, new discussions will likely be held at a lender's review planned for August, especially since the end to the war is not in sight, she told the media house. Meanwhile, Ukraine's Defense Minister took to messaging app Telegram, saying the country will need at least $120 billion for defense spending next year and that negotiations were ongoing with NATO and the EU over $60 billion in funding from partners. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video On Monday, the UK and Germany led a virtual meeting on how to help Ukraine acquire the weapons it needs to defend itself against Russian aggression. German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said he will "contribute to providing" five Patriot missile defense systems to Ukraine, DW's Teri Schultz reported from Brussels. This includes two systems Berlin had previously discussed, with an additional one expected to be financed by Norway. It is not clear whether Germany would pay for the remaining two defense systems itself, or if it will seek contributions from other NATO members. Meanwhile, Ukraine's former prime minister and newly appointed Defense Minister Denys Shmyhal, who was also part of the meeting, said Kyiv needs more than $6 billion (€5.1 billion) worth of additional military spending to increase its own weapons production. The UK imposed new sanctions on Russia's so-called "shadow fleet" which will target 135 oil tankers and two Russian companies involved in circumventing oil sanctions on Moscow. Additionally, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Ukraine and Russia will hold another round of talks on Wednesday. Two previous rounds held in Istanbul failed to yield any meaningful progress on a ceasefire. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Welcome to DW's coverage of the latest developments in Russia's war in Ukraine. Both Ukraine and Russia continue to exchange drones and missiles, aiming at each other's capital cities. Overnight Monday, Russia unleashed one of its largest aerial assaults on Kyiv, just hours before the UK and Germany chaired a high-level meeting to discuss the US' plans for NATO allies to provide Ukraine with weapons it needs. Stay tuned for the latest news and analysis from the ongoing war.

Ukraine: EU concerned over Kyiv's anti-corruption bodies – DW – 07/22/2025
Ukraine: EU concerned over Kyiv's anti-corruption bodies – DW – 07/22/2025

DW

time4 hours ago

  • DW

Ukraine: EU concerned over Kyiv's anti-corruption bodies – DW – 07/22/2025

Ukrainian lawmakers voted to strip two anti-corruption bodies of their independence. This could impede Ukraine's progress toward the EU, which has already expressed concern about the move. DW has the European Union's enlargement commissioner criticized a vote in the Ukrainian parliament to strip two anti-corruption bodies of their independence. Marta Kos stressed that the independence of he National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and an anti-graft prosecutor's office were "essential for Ukraine's EU path." Meanwhile, Ukraine's Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko said in an interview that she is likely to discuss a fresh loan program with the IMF next month. Ukraine and Russia are scheduled to hold the third round of peace talks in Istanbul on European Union's enlargement commissioner criticised a vote in the Ukrainian parliament to strip two anti-corruption bodies of independence. "Seriously concerned over today's vote in the Rada. The dismantling of key safeguards protecting NABU's independence is a serious step back," Marta Kos wrote on X, in reference to the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine. Kos stressed that the independence of the agency and an anti-graft prosecutor's office were "essential for Ukraine's EU path." Kyiv has been adamant to accelerate its membership in the bloc, especially since the 2022 Russian invasion. Ukraine's lawmakers voted in favor of amendments that would remove the independence of two anti-corruption bodies in the country. The National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) is the entity investigating corruption allegations within state institutions. The Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO) prosecutes corruption cases. Both NABU and SAPO were placed under the direct supervision of the Prosecutor General, who is appointed by the president. This comes a day after a NABU employee was arrested on suspicion of spying for Russia. The move triggered criticism both at home and internationally, with the EU saying it was "concerned" with the decision. Ukrainian NGO The Anti-Corruption Action Center said the amendments made the two agencies meaningless, adding the country's Prosecutor General "will stop investigations into" President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's "friends." France's top diplomat, Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot, visited the Ukrainian border region of Kharkiv in the northeastern part of the country on Tuesday. While walking through Kharkiv's city center, Barrot witnessed the current situation in the city, which is regularly being targeted by Russia, whose forces are some 30 kilometers away. Speaking during his visit, Barrot accused Russia of "deliberately" targeting civilians and residential areas, in a bid to "undermine Ukrainian morale." 1.4 million people lived in Kharkiv before Russia's full-scale invasion into Ukraine in 2022. As Russia steps up its attacks on Ukraine, the Kremlin is once again seeking help from North Korea. South Korean intelligence reports that the country has already sent Russia 28,000 containers filled with weapons and artillery shells. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Ukraine's delegation for the peace talks with Russia will be headed by the country's ex-Defense Minister and current secretary of the security council Rustem Umerov, President Volodymyr Zelensky said. The talks are scheduled to take place on Wednesday in Istanbul, in the same venue where previous talks between the two sides took place, with the Kremlin saying that there is no reason to expect a "miraculous breakthrough" in the talks. This comes after US President Donald Trump's threat to impose "severe" sanctions on Russia should a ceasefire agreement with Ukraine not be reached in 50 days. A 10-year-old boy was killed in Russian airstrikes on Ukraine, the authorities in the city of Kramatorsk say. According to city mayor Alexander Goncharenko, guided glide bombs launched by Russia hit a residential building in Kramatorsk, located in eastern Ukraine. The city is located in the area of Donetsk that remains under Ukrainian control three years after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Glide bombs have a range of up to 40 kilometers (25 miles), and their use by the Russian army is made possible by the front moving closer and closer to Kramatorsk. Ukraine's new Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko said she will likely seek fresh financing from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to cushion the country's fiscal needs in its defense against Russia's war, according to a report by Bloomberg. The report outlined that global donors have so far only earmarked half of the estimated $75 billion (€64.2 billion) budget that the war-strained country requires over the next two years. With the IMF's roughly $16 billion loan program set to expire in 2027, new discussions will likely be held at a lender's review planned for August, especially since the end to the war is not in sight, she told the media house. Meanwhile, Ukraine's Defense Minister took to messaging app Telegram, saying the country will need at least $120 billion for defense spending next year and that negotiations were ongoing with NATO and the EU over $60 billion in funding from partners. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video On Monday, the UK and Germany led a virtual meeting on how to help Ukraine acquire the weapons it needs to defend itself against Russian aggression. German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said he will "contribute to providing" five Patriot missile defense systems to Ukraine, DW's Teri Schultz reported from Brussels. This includes two systems Berlin had previously discussed, with an additional one expected to be financed by Norway. It is not clear whether Germany would pay for the remaining two defense systems itself, or if it will seek contributions from other NATO members. Meanwhile, Ukraine's former prime minister and newly appointed Defense Minister Denys Shmyhal, who was also part of the meeting, said Kyiv needs more than $6 billion (€5.1 billion) worth of additional military spending to increase its own weapons production. The UK imposed new sanctions on Russia's so-called "shadow fleet" which will target 135 oil tankers and two Russian companies involved in circumventing oil sanctions on Moscow. Additionally, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Ukraine and Russia will hold another round of talks on Wednesday. Two previous rounds held in Istanbul failed to yield any meaningful progress on a ceasefire. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Welcome to DW's coverage of the latest developments in Russia's war in Ukraine. Both Ukraine and Russia continue to exchange drones and missiles, aiming at each other's capital cities. Overnight Monday, Russia unleashed one of its largest aerial assaults on Kyiv, just hours before the UK and Germany chaired a high-level meeting to discuss the US' plans for NATO allies to provide Ukraine with weapons it needs. Stay tuned for the latest news and analysis from the ongoing war.

Which benefits am I entitled to as a part-time employee in Germany?
Which benefits am I entitled to as a part-time employee in Germany?

Local Germany

time6 hours ago

  • Local Germany

Which benefits am I entitled to as a part-time employee in Germany?

The number of part-time workers has grown significantly in recent years. Almost two out of five employees in Germany work part-time, according to figures from the Institute for Employment Research (IAB) for the first quarter of 2025. All regularly employed workers in Germany are entitled to certain benefits, but the amount of paid time off or other benefits you are entitled to does depend on how many hours you work in some cases. So what entitlements do part-time employees have in Germany regarding holidays, special payments, bonuses and the like? Here's what you need to know: Vacation days Full-time employees at many German companies receive up to 30 days of vacation a year. However, the minimum requirement according to German labour law is at least 20 days per year for workers on a five-day work week. "Part-time employees have the same entitlement, provided they work every day of the week," Daniel Stach, an employment lawyer at the Verdi federal board, told the German Press Agency. But if part-time work is spread across fewer weekly working days, then your vacation entitlement is adjusted accordingly. So if a company offers 30 vacation days for employees who work five days per week, then employees who work four days per week would be entitled to 80 percent of the benefit. Their vacation entitlement would therefore be 24 days (calculated as follows: 30 x 4 / 5 = 24). In effect, part-time workers are entitled to the same number of weeks of vacation as full-time employees - but they get fewer paid days off because they work fewer days per week. Advertisement When part-time work is irregular, it's calculated based on the total number of working days over a longer period. If an employee works 150 days per year, for example, their benefit would be calculated like this: 30 (vacation days for full-time employees) divided by 260 (annual working days of the company) multiplied by 150 (working days of the part-time employee per year) resulting in 17.30 vacation days per year. Special payments & bonuses Employees may be entitled to special payments, like Christmas or holiday bonuses, if these are stipulated in their employment contract. If so, part-time employees are entitled to at least a portion of the bonus payments, usually calculated pro rata depending on their working days. Regarding anniversary bonuses or loyalty bonuses for long-term employees, part-time employees are typically entitled to the same amount as full-time employees. If there's any doubt about bonus entitlements, employees are advised to check their employment contracts and / or ask their works council, trade union or a specialist employment lawyer. READ ALSO: Can I be paid in Germany for any holiday I don't take? Overtime pay According to German labour law - specifically the Part-Time and Fixed-Term Employment Act - part-time employees must be granted "every divisible corresponds to the proportion of the working to a full-time employee." This also extends to overtime pay. So part-time workers should also be paid more for hours worked overtime, which typically starts after eight hours of work in a single day or after 48 hours of work in a working week. Exceptions to this are permissible if an employer can present objective reasons to justify different treatment based on the nature of the work. Care-taker's leave Employees can take up to six months of care leave to care for a close relative who requires care level 1 at home. READ ALSO: Can I get time off for moving house in Germany? Advertisement According to the Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs, this applies to both full-time and part-time employees, who have the option of being released from work completely or partially. In order to better secure their livelihood during this time, they can also apply for an interest-free loan from the Federal Office for Family and Civil Society Tasks (BAFzA). With reporting by DPA.

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