AI-generated summary
Friedrich Merz ist der Vorsitzende der CDU. Das Politbarometer ist eine regelmäßig erhobene Umfrage zur politischen Stimmung in Deutschland.
Vor einigen Wochen wurde Friedrich Merz im ARD-Sommerinterview nach seinen schlechten persönlichen Zustimmungswerten befragt. »Jemand, der dem Land Veränderungen zumutet, ist natürlich zu Beginn nicht populär«, antwortete der Kanzler. Doch die Zahlen zeigen: Das trifft es nicht ganz.
Friedrich Merz war noch nie ein besonders populärer Politiker, doch inzwischen wird er von Monat zu Monat unbeliebter. Laut dem letzten Politbarometer liegen seine Zustimmungswerte nur noch bei 17 Prozent – ein neuer Negativrekord. Und der ist kein Ausreißer.
Thuringia's former Prime Minister Bodo Ramelow has called on his party colleague Ferat Koçak to clarify his connections to the Remmo clan and the PFLP-affiliated organization after Koçak was said to have been in contact with a son of the Remmo family and to have distributed a video criticizing clan crime. The debate about anti-Semitism and clan connections on the left has escalated since the election party in Berlin-Neukölln.
After its election victory in Berlin, the Left meets at a party conference to discuss a possible government formation with the SPD and the Greens. China's head of state and party leader Xi Jinping ends his three-day state visit to the USA without any concrete results other than a two-month extension of the trade agreement. The Federal Council has approved the federal government's fuel discount and passed further laws on child benefit, early start pensions and e-scooter accidents. In addition, young people across the country demonstrated against the possible reintroduction of compulsory military service.
The German agriculture ministers have agreed on a new regionalization model for fertilization that is intended to replace the previous 'red areas'. While politicians emphasize the polluter pays principle, water suppliers and environmentalists warn of bureaucracy and declining water protection.
CDU MP Pascal Reddig is threatening to reject the pension reform if the compromise is weakened. Economist Martin Werding is calling for counter-proposals, while the SPD is considering reforms such as pensions after 45 years following the AfD's election successes.
A study by the IMK of the Hans Böckler Foundation assesses the planned socialization of large Berlin housing stock as economically feasible. The researchers estimate the compensation costs at 13.5 billion euros and see this as a means of curbing rent prices.
Despite the possibility of forming a left-wing Senate and replacing the CDU, there is deep skepticism among the Greens and SPD in Berlin. Leading Greens describe the current mood as leaden, instead of showing euphoria about the political opportunity.