Luke Bay
Merz: Anti-expropriation law is almost finished
According to Chancellor Friedrich Merz, the federal government's work on banning the expropriation of housing companies is making good progress. “The draft law is ready,” said the CDU politician at an event organized by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Berlin. The only thing that still needs to be clarified is whether - if there is an expropriation - 100 or 80 percent of the market value would have to be replaced. “I don’t think I need to explain that we are 100 percent market value.”
Merz reiterated his criticism of the plans for a possible government coalition in Berlin made up of the Left, the Greens and the SPD. “If there is open talk about expropriations in Germany, if there is open talk in our country’s capital, then it has an impact on the capital markets in London, Paris and New York.” The protection of property is one of the basic principles of our economic system. “Only those who reliably protect property can maintain trust and without trust there are no investments.” Socialization does not create a job or an apartment. Instead, the business location is being massively damaged.
Lara Dehari
AfD rejects EU and NATO membership for Ukraine
The AfD foreign policy experts advocate that Ukraine should become a neutral state. “Ukraine must not become a member of NATO or the EU,” says a working paper published by MPs Martin Frohnmaier, Gerold Otten and Stefan Keuter on Monday. They presented two papers - one on relations with the USA and one on Russia. The working papers should show that the AfD foreign policymakers are concerned with “finding partners and not opening up differences in German foreign policy at every opportunity,” said Frohnmaier.
Lara Dehari
Merz speaks out in favor of a woman as Federal President
Chancellor Friedrich Merz has spoken out in favor of a woman succeeding Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier. "I will propose a common candidate to the party, a candidate from the political center. I am determined that it has to be a woman," he said at the non-public CDU district chairman conference in Berlin, as the German Press Agency learned from participants.
Henning Ott
Mailboxes of left-wing MPs in the Bundestag paralyzed
Left-wing members of the Bundestag have fallen victim to a massive attack on their email inboxes. According to information from parliamentary circles, these were flooded with thousands of emails and paralyzed. They could no longer be used. There was talk of a “spam bombing attack”. According to the information, the emails came from different senders, had different subjects and were written in different languages.
Only members of the Left were affected. There were only delays in the Bundestag's email traffic overall because the servers have enough capacity. The aggrieved MPs have now received instructions on how to filter the mass emails. The Federal Office for Information Security (BSI) was called in.
Luke Bay
Former Chancellor Merkel should help elect the Federal President
The CDU in Schleswig-Holstein wants to send former Chancellor Angela Merkel to the Federal Assembly to elect the Federal President next year. Several media outlets had previously reported.
The CDU politician was sent into the race by Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania in 2022. “After the CDU parliamentary group left the Schwerin state parliament, we as neighbors were happy to accept the appointment of Ms. Merkel with full conviction,” Schleswig-Holstein’s CDU parliamentary group leader Tobias Koch explained the decision.
In addition, Federal Education Minister Karin Prien and Prime Minister Daniel Günther as well as former handball star Patrick Wiencek are to elect the next head of state for the CDU.
Felicitas Dahmen
Left-wing politician Eralp receives police protection
Top Berlin left-wing politician Elif Eralp will receive police protection on Saturday at her party's party conference. Corresponding media reports were confirmed to the German Press Agency from security circles.
Accordingly, Eralp is said to have asked the Berlin police to check her security status. It was said that the check revealed a concrete threat situation due to the current constellation.
Lara Dehari
Merkel is campaigning for Federal President
Former Chancellor Angela Merkel wants a woman to succeed Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier. “There are 77 years of history in the Federal Republic of Germany, and there has never been a woman as Federal President,” complained Merkel in an interview on MagentaTV. Everyone has to ask themselves “whether now is the time,” said the CDU politician in the talk show “Bestbesatz” with Johannes B. Kerner. “I know people who are already born and who are female and who could do it,” emphasized Merkel. However, she didn't want to name any names.
Anna Kipnis
Left-wing politician Klein is the new President of the Berlin Parliament
The left-wing politician Hendrikje Klein is the new President of the Berlin House of Representatives. At the constitutive session of the state parliament almost six weeks after the election, 98 of the 149 MPs present voted for the 46-year-old. There were 42 votes against and 9 abstentions. Klein is the first female politician from her party to hold the office - and the third woman after Hanna-Renate Laurien (CDU/1991-1995) and Cornelia Seibeld (CDU/2023-2026).
The Left, as the strongest faction, had the right to propose the important post. Klein, who has a degree in administration, has been a member of the House of Representatives since 2016, so she has many years of parliamentary experience. Since 2024 she has been parliamentary managing director of the Left parliamentary group. Her areas of expertise also included human resources and administration. In the election on September 20th, she won a direct mandate in the Lichtenberg district.
Sabrina Frangos
More tolerated people in Germany again - the number is constantly increasing
The number of people living as tolerated persons in Germany is now increasing significantly again after a decline in the years 2023 to 2025. As the federal government said in response to a question from Green MP Filiz Polat, 200,601 people were staying in Germany with a tolerated permit at the end of September. According to information from the Federal Ministry of the Interior, 256,873 people were required to leave the country as of September 30th.
Tolerated people are people who are generally obliged to leave the country but cannot be deported for certain reasons - for example for family reasons, because they do not have any identification documents or are ill. Toleration is always limited. As of December 31, 2025, 190,974 of 232,067 people required to leave the country had a toleration permit.
Sabrina Frangos
SPD calls on rich people to speed up capping fuel prices
The SPD is calling on Federal Economics Minister Katherina Reiche (CDU) to speed up the planned fuel price cap. SPD parliamentary group deputy Armand Zorn told the German Press Agency that the ball was in Reiche's court: "Your house must present a suitable model for Germany. The key points must now be presented quickly so that the fuel price cap can come into force as agreed by January 1st, 2027 at the latest and relieve the burden on companies and drivers."
The situation in the Middle East remains volatile and energy prices are high. That's why the coalition has provided short-term and rapid relief until the end of the year, said Zorn, referring to the fuel discount. "Equally important, however, is the structural order of the mineral oil market, which is characterized by too little competition and too high profits for the large corporations. It is an important success for the SPD that the coalition has decided to introduce a fuel price cap from January 1, 2027, thus finally limiting the cash-in of the mineral oil companies." A fuel price cap would work as follows, according to Zorn: "A maximum selling price for diesel and gasoline in retail or wholesale is determined based on the oil price, processing and distribution costs. This is done according to a transparent formula in negotiations between oil companies and the government."
Julius Stockheim
Merz insists on the CDU's right to make proposals on the Federal President's question
When it comes to the search for candidates to succeed Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, Chancellor Friedrich Merz has not yet made a decision, but insists on the CDU's claim to the right to make proposals. This was made clear by those around him on the sidelines of his trip to Asia. The media had previously reported that he favored the Hessian CDU parliamentary group leader Ines Claus. So far, Merz has “neither made a decision nor made a proposal,” it was emphasized by those close to the Chancellor and CDU chairman.
However, it still applies that the CDU, as the strongest force in the Federal Assembly, “has the right to nominate a candidate”. There are “a number of suitable” options. Merz now wants to bring calm to the excited discussion. “The Chancellor and CDU chairman has an interest in an orderly process,” it was said from those close to him. The “first target point” is the meetings of the CDU presidium and board on November 9th. Until then, talks will be held with the state chairmen of the CDU, but also with the CSU.
Felicitas Dahmen
Wadephul calls for restraint in the Federal Presidential debate
Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul has urgently called for people to refrain from making statements about the successor to Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier. “There is no reason to rush, and it is of no use to the office or the potential candidates if there are public statements about this now,” said the CDU politician to the German Press Agency in Berlin after a conference of district chairmen from his home CDU association in Schleswig-Holstein, which he chaired.
Felicitas Dahmen
Union threatens Berlin and Saxony-Anhalt with constitutional lawsuits
Several Union parliamentary group leaders in the federal states are threatening the possible new state governments in Berlin and Saxony-Anhalt with lawsuits before the Federal Constitutional Court. "Our message is clear: No federal state is outside the constitution. If radical or extremist governments pass unconstitutional laws, we will exhaust all constitutional options to prevent this. Federal responsibility also means defending the Basic Law from its enemies," said a statement from the parliamentary group leaders from Lower Saxony, Bavaria and Thuringia.
Anna Kipnis
Nouripour is irritated by the name Claus in the Steinmeier debate
Green party leader Omid Nouripour has appeared “very irritated” that the Hessian CDU parliamentary group leader Ines Claus is being considered as the successor to Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier. “In these times, we need a person who holds the country together, who is supported by everyone,” Nouripour told the ARD capital studio and the German Press Agency on the sidelines of Steinmeier’s state visit to China.
“That’s why I also expect that a candidate will be presented that all of us in the democratic center can vote for,” said Nouripour, who comes from Hesse. “Ilse Aigner could be such a candidate.” Nouripour, who is also Vice President of the Bundestag, is accompanying Steinmeier on his trip to China.
The “Rheinische Post”, citing high-ranking CDU circles, reported that Claus was Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU)’s favorite for the highest state office. However, this was clearly denied by those close to the Chancellor. Claus himself expressed interest in the office of Federal President.
The new head of state will be elected on January 30th. Steinmeier is not allowed to run again after two terms in office. To date, no woman has ever been head of state in the Federal Republic. The CSU is campaigning for Aigner in the highest state office.
Angelika Ahrens
Environment Minister: Audi is “betting on a dead horse”
Federal Environment Minister Carsten Schneider (SPD) has sharply criticized the car manufacturer Audi's plans for a new plant in the USA. “While large parts of the world are moving towards technically superior electromobility, Audi is betting on fossil fuels and therefore on a dead horse,” said Schneider to the “Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger”. “Quite apart from the more than unsavory circumstances of this announcement, one must also have doubts about the future viability of this decision.”
Audi boss Gernot Döllner appeared on a campaign stage with Donald Trump at the weekend and announced the construction of its own US plant in the state of Georgia with around 4,500 jobs. Audi wants to build SUVs in the USA, including the new, particularly large Q9, which is tailored to the US market.
Felicitas Dahmen
Berlin Left postpones decision on MP Emde
The Berlin Left has not yet found a solution to the dispute over MP Vanessa Emde, who was controversial because of her criticism of Israel. After a meeting of the parliamentary group executive board with Emde and a meeting of the entire parliamentary group, a spokesman simply said that there was still no common basis for working with the MP. What happens next remains unclear. This will be discussed and decided in the committees, said the spokesman.
Henning Ott
Debate about the office of Federal President: Claus feels honored
The chairwoman of the CDU parliamentary group in Hesse, Ines Claus, describes it as a “great honor” to have been mentioned in connection with a candidacy for the office of Federal President. "Now it is important to follow an orderly procedure. Within the party, i.e. with the prime ministers, the leadership bodies of the CDU and the CSU and of course with our coalition partner," said Claus, who is also the deputy federal chairwoman of the CDU, to the "Rheinische Post".
The newspaper reports, citing high-ranking CDU circles, that the 49-year-old is Chancellor Friedrich Merz's (CDU) favorite for the highest state office. It was said that the Chancellor wanted to make a final decision after his trip to Asia next week.
Henning Ott
Dobrindt wants to prevent “arbitrary” associations
Federal Interior Minister Dobrindt (CSU) has presented plans for an “investment protection law”. Mergers should therefore only be possible if they are absolutely necessary and owners are compensated at the full market value.
Bastian Prockner
Merz wants the EU to have close trade ties with Asean states
Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Singapore's Prime Minister Lawrence Wong have spoken out in favor of closer trade relations between the EU and Asian countries.
