Latest news with #MarkusSöder
DW
3 days ago
- Politics
- DW
CSU chief supports German 'Iron Dome' missile defense system – DW – 06/30/2025
Bavaria's leader Markus Söder is urging the procurement of 2,000 Patriot rockets for the German version of "Iron Dome," while another senior conservative is calling for a German-European nuclear umbrella. DW has three-quarters of people living in Germany believe their pensions will be insufficient to allow them to keep their current standard of living, with just over half of them prepared to keep working beyond the official retirement age for that reason, a survey released on Monday has shown. In all, 54.3% of 1,163 respondents in the YouGov poll said they would be willing to keep on working beyond the legal retirement age, most of them part-time and up to the age of 70. Of this group, one in five (19.8%) said they would keep working only if they received higher pay. Altogether some 33% said they would not be willing to work beyond the retirement age. The German government is planning to change rules so that older people can stay in the workforce if they so desire. The standard retirement age in Germany is being gradually raised from 65 to 67 by 2029. German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt on Sunday threw cold water on a motion by the center-left Social Democratic Party (SPD) calling for the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party to be banned. Dobrindt is a member of the conservative Christian Social Union (CSU), the Bavarian sister party of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), which leads a coalition government with the SPD. At the close of its three-day congress in Berlin, the SPD passed a motion calling for preparations to ban the far-right AfD, after the party was classified as a "right-wing extremist" group by Germany's domestic intelligence agency. That designation has been suspended pending a legal challenge by the AfD. In a statement to the news agency dpa, the Green Party said it agrees with the SPD's position. Speaking to the " podcast on Sunday, Dobrindt said "decisions made at the SPD party conference are not yet a mandate for the interior minister." Dobrindt instead called for a cautious approach and to allow for the legal process to play out. He said a federal-state interior ministers working group will address the AfD issue if the "right-wing extremist" designation is upheld in court. The working group is awaiting a ruling from the Cologne Administrative Court on whether it agrees with the "extremist" designation. Dobrindt, as well as Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU), have previously said they are skeptical of banning the AfD, which is known for its nationalist, anti-immigration, anti-Muslim and Eurosceptic policies. The AfD has grown in popularity over the past decade to become Germany's largest opposition party. A woman and a young girl were found dead on a forest path in North Rhine-Westphalia, western Germany, on Sunday only days after a reported robbery on the same trail in Dorsten-Holsterhausen. Police said the woman, believed to be between 25 and 30-years-old, had a head wound and may have been a victim a violent crime. The child, estimated to be between 2 and 3-years-old, was found nearby. Neither has been identified. On Thursday a 40-year-old woman and her 1-year-old child were attacked on the same path by a man and a woman who tried to steal her handbag, before fleeing in a black BMW X6. Jens Spahn, leader of the CDU/CSU parliamentary group, has called for Germany to immediately gain access to nuclear weapons. "Russian aggression is a completely new threat," Spahn told . He added that US nuclear bombs stationed in Germany are no longer sufficient to deter nuclear weapons. "Europe must become capable of deterrence," the conserative politician said. "We must talk about German or European participation in the nuclear arsenal of France and Great Britain, possibly also about our own participation with other European states." He added, "Anyone who cannot deter nuclear weapons becomes a pawn in global politics." Spahn's proposal was met with strong criticism from the Left Party and the SPD, a coalition partner. SPD foreign policy expert Rolf Mützenich accused Spahn of playing with fire "when he calls for European, possibly even German, nuclear weapons." Mützenich explained that the SPD is clearly committed to the goal of nuclear non-proliferation. The German Bundeswehr does not possess its own nuclear weapons. However, some nuclear weapons are stored in Germany under US control. In an emergency, the Bundeswehr could be called upon to deploy these weapons. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video At its party congress in Berlin, the Social Democratic Party (SPD) , which is part of the ruling coalition, voted against resuming any natural gas deliveries from Russia through the Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2 pipelines. The Nord Stream pipeline system consists of two double pipelines running across the Baltic Sea to Germany. Nord Stream 1 became operational in 2011, allowing Russia to deliver directly to its German clients without paying transit fees to eastern European countries. While traditional land pipelines continued to operate after 2011, the Nord Stream project and its expansion plans enraged multiple governments in the region, including Kyiv, that saw its leverage as a gas transit country diminish in any future disputes with Russia. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video It also drew condemnation from US and EU officials, who warned that Germany was becoming too dependent on Russian gas. However, Berlin proceeded to work with Russia to build Nord Stream 2, which would run mostly parallel to the original one. German officials insisted the gas transit route was purely an economic project. Nord Stream 2 was completed in 2021. However, it never became operational due to deteriorating relations between Russia and the West, and was eventually hit by unexplained explosions in September 2022. Additional explosions destroyed both pipelines of Nord Stream 1. Despite reports indicating Ukrainian operatives were involved in the blasts, the responsability was never officialy established. Recently, speculation has mounted about a potential US takeover of the insolvent Nord Stream pipeline operator, which could facilitate commissioning. On Sunday, however, the delegates at the SPD party conference said they opposed such proposal that may come from their partners in the ruling coalition and "the US Republican Party." During his visit to Israel, Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt announced that Germany is aiming to establish a joint cyberresearch center and strengthen collaboration between the countries' intelligence and security agencies. "Military defense alone is not sufficient for this turning point in security. A significant upgrade in civil defense is also essential to strengthen our overall defensive capabilities," Dobrindt said, according to Germany's newspaper. According to a report, Dobrindt also outlined a five-point plan to establish a "Cyber Dome" for Germany as part of its cyberdefense strategy. Germany is one of Israel's closest allies in Europe. As it boosts its military capabilities and contributions to NATO in the face of perceived growing threats from Russia and China, Berlin has increasingly looked to draw upon Israel's defense expertise. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video As a continentwide heat wave is set to worsen in the coming days, the German Weather Service issued warnings for southern and western regions, with peaks of 39 degrees Celsius (102.2 F) expected on Wednesday. Alerts were in place from 11 a.m. (9 a.m. UTC) Sunday in the states of Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, Hesse, North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate and Saarland. "Avoid the heat if possible, drink enough water and keep indoor spaces cool," the weather service said. On Monday, Germany's southern regions could see temperatures reach 35 degrees, with summer storms likely in Alpine areas and the Black Forest. The heatwave is then likely to subside, bringing cooler, stormy weather to many regions. Southern Europe is currently experiencing a serious heatwave, with temperatures in Spain reaching over 40 degrees. At the close of its three-day congress in Berlin, Germany's Social Democratic Party (SPD) passed a motion calling for preparations to ban the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party. "The moment at which domestic intelligence says this is a confirmed right-wing extremist party, there is no more room for tactics," party co-leader Lars Klingbeil said. He also serves as finance minister and vice chancellor in Friedrich Merz's government. The motion, put forward by the SPD, calls on the relevant constitutional bodies to lay the groundwork for filing a case to declare the anti-immigrant AfD unconstitutional. "Now is the time for the constitutional bodies entitled to do so to create the conditions for immediately filing a motion to determine the unconstitutionality of the AfD," the text reads. Calls to ban the AFD intensified after Germany's domestic intelligence agency, the Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BfV), reclassified the party in May as a "confirmed right-wing extremist" group, enabling expanded surveillance. However, this designation has been suspended pending a legal challenge by the AfD, meaning the agency will now treat the party as a "suspected" case until the Cologne Administrative Court reaches a decision. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video The finals of the first German dachshund racing contest took place in the eastern city of Magdeburg, the capital of the state of Saxony-Anhalt. The short-legged dogs were encouraged to run the 40-meter (132-foot) course with the help of whistles, toys and treats. A total of 220 dogs were entered in the competition, which began on Saturday. Each dog was managed by teams of two people: one held the dog at the start, while the other shouted encouragement at the finish line. Eight dogs competed in each heat. The different classes racing included miniature and other classes, along with the standard breed. The dachshund breed is believed to date back to the early 18th century. They may have been bred to hunt badgers, though this is disputed. During an unexpected visit to Tel Aviv on Sunday, German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt offered unqualified support for Israel's attack on Iran's nuclear weapons program. "Iran has been destabilizing this region for years, for decades, one has to say, with its support for terrorist groups to the north, to the south, to the east of Israel," he said. Dobrindt said Iran's nuclear program was "a real threat to Israel's right to exist and a threat to Europe as well." The German minster said Tehran had received a clear message that Israel, the United States and allies such as Germany could not tolerate research on or construction of nuclear weapons. Tehran insists that its nuclear program is for purely civilian purposes. Dobrindt made these comments while visiting the site of a deadly Iranian missile attack in Bat Yam with Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar. He described the attack as an assault on the civilian population and expressed his belief that Iran would use any nuclear bomb it developed against Israel. Dobrindt said that Germany would continue to do all it could to secure Israel's existence. Markus Söder, Bavaria's state premier and head of the Christian Social Union (CSU), called for the acquisition of thousands of drones, new missile systems and a German version of the "Iron Dome" consisting of 2,000 Patriot missiles in case of attacks. "Germany needs a protective shield with precision weapons," Söder told newspaper, adding that this would include a modern drone army of 100,000 drones and a defense shield similar to Israel's "Iron Dome." "We should cooperate with Ukraine and Israel and use their experience," Söder said. In addition to drones, Söder called for 300 new battle tanks, 500 infantry fighting vehicles, 35 additional Eurofighter warplanes, and 1,000 more Taurus cruise missiles. He also called for the Bundeswehr to have its own satellites. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video , and welcome to DW's coverage of developments in Germany on Sunday, June 29. The center-left Social Democratic Party (SPD) concludes its party congress in Berlin. On Friday, Lars Klingbeil was reelected as co-leader of the party, receiving 65% support, a significant decrease from the 85.6% he garnered in 2023. For all of the latest news from Germany, stay tuned here.
DW
4 days ago
- Politics
- DW
CSU chief supports German ‘Iron Dome' missile defense system – DW – 06/29/2025
CSU leader Markus Söder is calling for the procurement of 2,000 interceptor missiles for the German version of the "Iron Dome" missile defense system. DW has more. During an unexpected visit to Tel Aviv on Sunday, German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt offered unqualified support for Israel's attack on Iran's nuclear weapons program. "Iran has been destabilizing this region for years, for decades, one has to say, with its support for terrorist groups to the north, to the south, to the east of Israel," he said. Dobrindt added that the Iranian nuclear program is "a real threat to Israel's right to exist and a threat to Europe as well." The German minster said that Tehran had received a clear message that Israel, the United States, and other allies like Germany could not tolerate research on or construction of nuclear weapons. Tehran insists that its nuclear program is for purely civilian purposes. Dobrindt made these comments while visiting the site of a deadly Iranian missile attack in Holon with Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar. He described the attack as an assault on the civilian population and expressed his belief that Iran would use any nuclear bomb it developed against Israel. Dobrindt said that Germany would continue to do all it could to secure Israel's existence. Markus Söder, Bavaria's state premier and head of the Christian Social Union (CSU), called for the acquisition of thousands of drones, new missile systems, and a German version of the "Iron Dome" consisting of 2,000 Patriot systems to protect against potential attacks. "Germany needs a protective shield with precision weapons," Söder told newspaper, adding that this would include a modern drone army of 100,000 drones and a defense shield similar to Israel's "Iron Dome." "We should cooperate with Ukraine and Israel and use their experience," CSU leader said. In addition to drones, Söder called for 300 new battle tanks, 500 infantry fighting vehicles, 35 additional Eurofighter warplanes, and 1,000 more Taurus cruise missiles. He also called for the Bundeswehr to have its own satellites. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video , and welcome to DW's coverage of developments in Germany on Sunday, June 29. The center-left Social Democratic Party (SPD) concludes its party congress in Berlin. On Friday, Lars Klingbeil was re-elected as co-leader of the party, receiving 65% support, a significant decrease from the 85.6% he garnered in 2023. For all of the latest news from Germany, stay tuned here.
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Bavarian pork festival draws politicians, animal rights protests
A disputed pork festival in Bavaria went ahead on Saturday with some German political heavyweights - and appetite – behind it, despite a bid by animal rights activists to thwart the event. The barbecue competition in the idyllic forest town of Viechtach, located close to the Czech border, had been a source of controversy for weeks, with animal rights organization PETA organizing a protest. On the day, no serious incidents were reported between the activists and grilling enthusiasts who gathered for the event, including Bavarian Premier Markus Söder. "On the road in Lower Bavaria at the first Viechtach Pig Festival," Söder posted on X. "Of course, nobody is forced to eat meat. Everyone is allowed to eat what they want. But for me personally, a grilled piece of Bavarian pork is simply unbeatable." Söder appeared in Viechtach with bratwurst and meat sandwiches and chatted to attendees. Mayor Franz Wittmann had originally wanted to offer an attraction for locals and tourists to liven up an otherwise unremarkable cultural scene. However, the idea of an international barbecue competition outraged a local group called Vegan in Viechtach. The town, with a population of 8,500 residents, made national headlines before the first pig had even turned on the spit. While only six barbecue teams initially registered, the number eventually grew to 16, according to the mayor.
The Independent
06-05-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Friedrich Merz has finally been voted in as German chancellor – he'll have to be ruthless to survive
It fell to a party leader best known for cracking jokes to seize the gravity of the moment. The events of Tuesday 6 May 2025 could end up being a ' harbinger of Weimar ', declared Markus Söder, head of the Bavarian arm of the Conservative Christian Democrats. The decision of the Bundestag initially to reject the appointment of Friedrich Merz as chancellor – the first time this has happened in post-war Germany – was a blow to the heart of the democratic system, said Söder, one of the country's most important politicians. The consequences of a second failed vote would, he suggested, send the country back to the 1920s, an era of instability that eventually ushered in the Nazis. After seven hours of arm-twisting and desperate appeals within his own party and across the aisle, Merz was finally confirmed to the office, becoming the 10th chancellor of the Federal Republic. This most dramatic of days exposed the fragility of his government even before it had begun. Is Merz mortally wounded, a paralysed leader at a time when Germany, Europe and democracy need strength? Or will he learn from his close escape and change his ways? At the age of 69, that won't be easy. Acerbic, sometimes brittle but determined, Merz has made quite a few enemies in a long and turbulent political life. The coalition that his Christian Democrats (CDU) agreed with the Social Democrats (SPD) was the only one available after a general election in February that saw the far-right AfD storm into a close second place and the revitalised Left Party become a major force in the land. These two parties were never going to support him. What was shocking, however, was the decision of 18 MPs from the two parties that were supposed to be preparing for government voting against their new leader, knowing that the majority was already wafer-thin. The fact that it was a secret ballot, in accordance with procedure, meant that they could do so with impunity. Scores were being settled. German MPs usually shun florid language and politics as theatre. The day's events saw an avalanche of both. Nobody was anticipating such an outcome. As parliament assembled in the morning, everything had been intricately prepared. Olaf Scholz, the outgoing chancellor, had been piped out by a military band, as per tradition, on Monday night. Painfully for all concerned, one of the three music pieces he chose was Aretha Franklin's 'Respect'. The morning's vote was expected to be a rubber stamp, with Merz due to head straight to the president's palace to assume his seals of office; photographers had already assembled in their positions. Each member of the cabinet was to be welcomed into their new government department in a carefully choreographed demonstration of a fresh start. Then a celebratory dinner. Instead, shock, long faces and panic. Merz will be desperate to put the setback behind him; he will need some quick domestic wins and strong appearances on the world stage to try to ensure that he will not be defined by his Day Zero. He will pick up his schedule on Wednesday with trips to Paris to see president Emmanuel Macron and straight on to Warsaw to be greeted by prime minister Donald Tusk. That will be followed in short order by Brussels and VE-Day Commemorations. A trip to London is also expected, with a bilateral treaty between the two countries close to completion. It was no surprise that one of the first leaders to send his congratulations was Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Merz has been forthright in declaring his intention to provide stronger military support for Kyiv and to build up Germany's weakened armed forces. The most important relationship of all – with Donald Trump – is expected to be extremely bumpy. The US administration has made no secret of its admiration for its ideological partner, the AfD, and denounced Germany's security services for officially declaring that party as extreme-right. The AfD, already level-pegging with the CDU in the polls, is waiting in the wings for this government to collapse. If that happens, if elections were to be called early, then all bets would be off. That is why Merz must deliver on revitalising the economy, increasing control on immigration and improving public services. He has a huge windfall to spend after parliament agreed to loosen Germany's stringent controls on borrowing. On paper, his cabinet looks capable of delivery – a mix of tried and trusted, such as Boris Pistorius staying on as defence minister, in Johann Wadephul a foreign minister who knows his brief, along with some surprising choices, such as a former energy chief executive, Katherina Reiche, who isn't even in parliament. A pivotal player will be the vice-chancellor, finance minister and leader of the SPD, Lars Klingbeil. In recent days, he antagonised several experienced figures in his party by not only ignoring them for cabinet posts but giving the impression that he was enjoying denigrating them. With so many political forces ranged against him, Merz will need to show ruthlessness in pushing through radical legislation. At the same time, he needs to display greater emotional intelligence and the ability to compromise, characteristics he does not appear to have in huge supply. Danger is right in front of him and all around him.
Muscat Daily
05-05-2025
- Politics
- Muscat Daily
Germany's parties sign coalition deal
Berlin, Germany – Germany's conservative CDU/CSU union and centre-left Social Democrats (SPD) party have signed a coalition deal paving the way for the swearing in of the new government on Tuesday. The leaders of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), their Bavarian sister party the Christian Social Union (CSU) and the SPD signed the 144-page agreement, which was announced last month after a round of coalition talks. CDU leader Friedrich Merz, who's set to be sworn in as chancellor on Tuesday, vowed ahead of signing the agreement that the three parties would 'vigorously get to work'. 'We know that it is our almost historical obligation to lead this coalition to success. We are determined to do this together.' CSU leader Markus Söder and SPD leader Lars Klingbeil echoed Merz' determination. 'This government must be successful,' Klingbeil said before signing the coalition agreement. 'It is up to us whether Germany shapes the new world order.' Söder described the future coalition as a 'community of responsibility'. 'It can and will be a strong team,' he said. DW
