
SPD co-leader and German Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil told ZDF that the result of the regional elections in Saxony-Anhalt represents a signal for the national government led by Chancellor Friedrich Merz, inviting reflection on federal politics.
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Regional elections in Saxony-Anhalt saw a result that SPD co-leader Lars Klingbeil interprets as a signal to the German national government led by Chancellor Friedrich Merz.
SPD co-leader and Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil confirmed to Zdf that the result of the regional elections in Saxony-Anhalt is a "signal for Berlin", i.e. for the national government led by Chancellor Friedrich Merz. The result would be a reason to reflect on federal government policy. “And rest assured we will,” he added.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he discussed the supply of Patriot missiles with US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, stressing that the war with Russia will continue into the winter. The talks in Kiev were described as substantive and frank, while in parallel there were Ukrainian attacks on Russian targets and mutual accusations over the drone incident in Leipzig. Zelensky also said that territorial issues must be resolved exclusively between presidents.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ordered the evacuation of some settler settlements in the West Bank, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said at a conference in Jerusalem. Smotrich said he didn't like the arrangement, noting that these are often outposts made up of a few trailers or prefabricated structures built without government approval.

Economy Minister Giancarlo Giorgetti closes the Teha Forum in Cernobbio by predicting a GDP close to 1%, expresses concerns about the international situation, defines himself as a 'pragmatic sovereignist' on public debt, invites entrepreneurs to see salaries as an investment and addresses issues such as demography, MPS, GDP deficit, Europe-US investment gaps, raw materials, defence, artificial intelligence and the cost of energy linked to the wars in the Middle East and Ukraine.

The Senate resumes examination of the electoral law in the Constitutional Affairs Committee on Monday, with a deadline set for the vote in the Chamber on 9 September. The majority aims to bring the text to the Chamber by the end of September to make it law in October, but they risk parliamentary hitches and protests against the bill on anti-Semitism. Giorgia Meloni excludes the acceleration of the end of the legislature after the approval of the electoral law, while Luca Ciriani proposes the vote in spring 2027 as a common sense option.

Matteo Renzi launches the idea of a 'pact' inspired by German coalition contracts to unite the centre-left, but the Green and Left Alliance, Pd and M5S react coldly, preferring to focus on a shared program built with civil society.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that the issue of Patriot systems is urgent and important, counting on the 'winter package' discussed with Steve, Jared and European partners. He said three rounds of substantive negotiations had been held, underlining the need for air defense, energy support, American liquefied natural gas, security and economic guarantees, reconstruction and a 'prosperity plan' for Ukraine, with the military needing to be strong and the guarantees solid and clear.