Germany news: Merz urges CDU discipline as pressure grows

Chancellor Friedrich Merz has urged his party to stay disciplined as pressure grows over his leadership. Meanwhile, Germany's homeownership rate has fallen to its lowest level in 20 years. DW has the latest.

Friedrich Merz has urged his party to stay focused as criticism of his leadership grows after the CDU’s defeat to the AfD in Saxony-Anhalt. Coalition partners and opposition parties are now openly questioning what happens next. Germany's homeownership rate has fallen to 43.5%, its lowest level in 20 years. A study blames high construction costs, higher interest rates and housing policy.

Green Party co-leader Felix Banaszak has told Chancellor Friedrich Merz's government to "get your s--- together" amid growing speculation over a possible change of chancellor. "I am extremely irritated by all the speculation that is coming from everywhere," Banaszak said in Berlin on Monday. "And my expectation is very clear: Get your s--- together. We are living in such dramatic times." Banaszak said that while he had not voted for Merz, the chancellor and his coalition had been elected and had a responsibility to govern the country. The Green politician pointed to discussions about minority governments, the possible dismissal of ministers from the center-left Social Democratic Party (SPD) and scenarios involving an early replacement of Merz. He said the debates suggested that Merz and the leadership of his center-right Christian Democratic Union (CDU) were losing control both of the coalition and of discussions within their own party. "That is not a good sign," Banaszak said.

The German union IG Metall is calling for demonstrations in more than 200 locations across the country on Monday, September 21. The demonstrations will be held to protest job cuts and other demands being made of workers in the auto industry. Christiane Benner, leader of IG Metall, said most of the sector's crisis is falling on employees. "We are currently witnessing an unprecedented attack on workers in the auto industry," she said, adding that the union's main concern is the risk of losing the 35-hour workweek, a standard in the German auto sector. Due to the current challenges facing the sector, automakers are proposing an increase to a 40-hour workweek with no wage adjustments. Jens Schäfer, chairman of the ZF Automotive Works Council in Hanover, said this would mean five additional hours of work without extra pay. "That's driving colleagues crazy," he said, adding that it would also lead to more job losses. Benner said workers have already made sacrifices, including concessions in collective bargaining agreements and pay concessions worth billions of euros, while companies continue to pay dividends and management has faced no consequences for past mistakes. IG Metall's goal is to mobilize more than 100,000 people on September 21.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has congratulated Alexander Zverev on winning the US Open, his second Grand Slam title of the season. The German defeated Ben Shelton 6-3, 7-6 (7-2), 5-7, 6-2 in Sunday's final in New York. "First Paris, now New York: Heartfelt congratulations, dear Alex Zverev, on the well-deserved US Open victory and your second Grand Slam title in a season. Stellar performance!" Merz wrote on X.

Almost half of schoolchildren in Germany say they regularly have problems sleeping, according to a new survey published by health insurer DAK-Gesundheit. The survey found that 46% of pupils in grades five to 10 experience sleep problems at least once a week, up from 36% in the 2019/2020 school year. At the same time, 69% said they felt drained or exhausted at least once a week. Three years ago, the figure was 52%. Michael Hubmann, president of Germany's professional association of pediatricians, pointed to excessive media use as one factor behind the increase in sleep and exhaustion problems. "Children and adolescents who use social media until late in the evening or consume disturbing videos triggered by algorithms are being kept from healthy sleep," he said. DAK chief executive Andreas Storm warned that persistent exhaustion and sleep problems could make it harder for children to learn successfully.

German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius has announced that Germany will acquire a fourth signals intelligence ship. "These ships can hear and see what others cannot. They are our eyes and ears at sea. They perceive and analyze a vast range of signals and sounds," the minister said during a keel-laying ceremony for the third ship of this type to be built by the German company Rheinmetall. The acquisition is part of a budget proposal that is pending parliamentary approval, he added. Pistorius also said the ships were essential for providing situational awareness and enabling precise maneuvering in times of increasing insecurity. The new class of ships are expected to be delivered to the German Navy from 2029.

The German Ministry of Economy says the country is experiencing an economic slowdown at the beginning of the third quarter. "The economic boom in energy-intensive industries, which was driven by increased foreign demand in the wake of the conflict in the Middle East, appears to be slowing down," the ministry said in its monthly report. High energy costs have caused domestic consumption to decline considerably, a trend also driven by the conflict, the report said.

German federal prosecutors have charged a 57-year-old Berlin businesswoman with carrying out intelligence activities for Russia. Ilona W., who holds German and Ukrainian citizenship, is accused of working for the intelligence service of a foreign power, the Federal Prosecutor's Office said. She was arrested on January 21 and remains in pre-trial detention.

Fewer people in Germany are living in homes they own, with the country's homeownership rate falling to its lowest level in 20 years, according to a study. The rate now stands at 43.5%, the Augsburger Allgemeine newspaper reported, citing research by the Pestel Institute. Institute director Matthias Günther said Germany ranked last in Europe for homeownership. Günther pointed to high construction costs, higher interest rates and housing policy over recent years. "Even where property prices are stagnating or falling, even dual-income households on average salaries are barely able to afford a home of their own," he said. According to the study, residential construction costs have risen by 160% since 2000, compared with a 64% increase in overall consumer prices. Younger people are bearing much of the impact, Günther said. Almost three-quarters of people aged 25 to 45 currently live in rented accommodation, the study found.

Germany and Hungary have "an enormous amount of catching up to do" in their diplomatic relations, German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul has said. The politician is visiting Hungary as the first German foreign minister to do so in almost seven years. "Hungary and Germany are opening a new chapter together," Wadephul said before his departure. He said the political change in Hungary offered an opportunity to rebuild relations "at great speed" on a foundation of mutual trust and reliability. Hungary's new government had launched important reforms within a short period, he said, adding that a return to the rule of law and implementation of EU requirements were good news both for Europe and for Hungarians. The nationalist Fidesz party of former Prime Minister Viktor Orban was voted out of office in April. Since May, conservative Prime Minister Peter Magyar has led a new pro-European government. Wadephul said predictable rules and the rule of law were important not only for public confidence but also for companies considering investment. "If fair and reliable competitive conditions once again apply to companies from all EU member states, Hungary's economy will benefit considerably," he said. German companies already account for around 250,000 jobs in Hungary, according to Wadephul.