Germany’s eastern state at a political crossroads
Jens Spahn has stepped down as parliamentary group leader of Germany’s CDU/CSU after revelations he and his husband used a US surrogate to become parents. The move follows internal party pressure and raises questions about credibility and surrogacy policy in Germany.
Merkel-era pressures persist as Conservative leader Friedrich Merz reshuffles his cabinet amid surging AfD support in eastern Germany. Internal party realignments aim to stabilize governing coalition and blunt far-right momentum ahead of regional elections.
Authorities have identified 21-year-old Abdul Ballout as the suspect who has driven a van into a crowd near Berlin’s Christopher Street Day closing party, then stabbed people; one woman has died and about 29–31 people have been injured. Police have shot and killed Ballout after a manhunt, and investigators have found a video and other material referencing Islamic State on devices linked to him.
The AfD is polling ahead in Saxony-Anhalt ahead of state elections on 6 September, arguing for a patriotic cultural policy and a shift in how German history is taught. The party has pledged to change curricula, raise the flag in schools, and preserve war memorials. Critics warn of risks to liberal democracy and Bauhaus heritage.
The AfD has surged in Saxony-Anhalt, threatening to win an outright majority in the state election. CDU trails and coalition dynamics loom as parties weigh their options in the wake of a results shock that could reshape Germany’s political landscape.
The AfD has secured 44% of the vote in Saxony-Anhalt, threatening an absolute majority; CDU support has fallen, and the election signals a potential shift in Germany’s political landscape as Russia ties and migration policies figure prominently in the party’s platform.
The AfD has finished first in Saxony-Anhalt with about 43–44% of the vote, short of an absolute majority. CDU falls sharply, while BSW hints at possible cooperation. The result challenges Germany’s firewall against governing with the far right and raises questions about future coalition dynamics.
Saxony-Anhalt has delivered a landslide for the AfD, with CDU’s share falling to 17% and the far-right party signaling coalition-building. Merz has acknowledged the defeat, pledging to press on with reforms as the party faces a reshaped national landscape.
Volkswagen has agreed to sell its Osnabrück factory to Aurelius Capital and the state of Lower Saxony and has announced an initial partnership with Rafael Advanced Defence Systems to produce air‑defence components from mid‑2027. The deal will secure at least 1,200 jobs and forms part of VW's broader Future Plan 2030 restructuring and 100,000 job reductions.
AfD has won about 44% in Saxony-Anhalt, raising the possibility it could form Germany’s first far-right state government since World War II. Minority communities fear renewed hostility as elections also loom in Berlin and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. Parties across Germany assess the implications for democracy and policy.
Serbia has held a large funeral for Ratko Mladić, the convicted Bosnian war criminal, with soldiers, several government ministers and church leaders taking part. The event has prompted condemnations from the EU, led to Bosnia downgrading diplomatic ties, and caused EU officials to pause visits and reassess Serbia’s accession prospects.
Tim Montgomerie has quit Reform UK after suspending him for criticizing Nigel Farage and home affairs spokesman Zia Yusuf. He says the party must “get a grip” and professionalise HQ; he still supports Reform but will not rejoin the Conservatives. The row follows internal splits and a Channel 4 sting over donations.
The Alternative for Germany (AfD) has won about 44% in Saxony‑Anhalt, taking 39 of 83 seats and falling three short of a majority. Chancellor Friedrich Merz has condemned the party's "remigration" plans as ethnic cleansing and has faced domestic backlash after the result; international figures including Donald Trump and Elon Musk have praised the AfD.
The far-right AfD has secured a sweeping win in Saxony-Anhalt, prompting concerns about a broader European shift. UK protesters challenge migration policies as Dover and Portsmouth scenes echo rising nationalist sentiment. Alf Dubs reflects on Kindertransport memories while warning against echoes of 1930s Europe.
The AfD has topped voting in Saxony-Anhalt and is forming talks to lead the state government, while about 150,000 demonstrators across 20 cities protest calls to ban the party. Berlin hosts a counter-rally as mainstream parties face pressure over the rise of Germany’s far right.
Germany has announced temporary fuel relief and is considering a windfall tax on oil companies as oil prices top $100 a barrel amid Middle East tensions. The plan includes cuts to energy taxes and a potential cap on gas and diesel prices, with implementation aimed for early 2027 and ongoing EU discussions.
Regional ballots in Berlin and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania have shown heavy losses for Friedrich Merz’s CDU and strong gains for the far-right AfD, two weeks after the AfD routed the CDU in Saxony-Anhalt. Merz has cancelled travel, convened CDU leaders and cleared his diary as party figures warn the results will increase pressure on his leadership.
Germany has named a 44-man squad split into two groups for Nations League fixtures in September and October. The move marks Jurgen Klopp’s first squad since taking over, with several debutants and notable omissions shaped by fitness and strategy.
Regional elections in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and Berlin show the CDU losing ground to the AfD, with Merz under pressure as coalition dynamics shift and economic frustration grows. The AfD leads inMecklenburg-Vorpommern and gains momentum nationwide, while Berlin hints at coalition recalibration.
Voters in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania have delivered a severe setback for the CDU and boosted the AfD, while Berlin’s ballot shows Die Linke gaining ground. Merz vows to push ahead with reforms as the far-right gains momentum across Germany.
Chancellor Merz has vowed to press ahead with reforms after regional election losses in Berlin and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, while CDU faces questions over leadership as AfD gains ground. Five more state elections are planned next year.
Berlin’s state election has put Elif Eralp of Die Linke on track to become the city’s governing mayor. Her victory signals a potential historic shift and faces coalition hurdles as pro-poor housing plans meet resistance from other parties.
Germany faces a shift in regional politics as left-leaning coalitions gain ground in Berlin and Saxony-Anhalt, while the CDU suffers its worst state-level result. The developments reflect broader European trends and prompt questions about future governance.
The CDU has suffered a crushing setback in two regional elections, with the AfD leading in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and Berlin, prompting questions about Chancellor Merz's future as pressure mounts for reform and coalition strategy.
France has seen days of student protests and wider public demonstrations. Police have faced clashes, thousands have been arrested, and teachers and students await concrete budget measures. The government has announced targeted steps to improve teacher absence and availability while warning against violence and setting a timetable for future budget discussions.
The AfD has won power in Saxony-Anhalt and the broader German political landscape is facing a realignment as multiple parties confront the far right's gains. Bundestag calculations, Berlin’s shifting Left/Green dynamics, and CDU vulnerability are in focus as coalition options and firewall politics are tested.
A Hamburg court has opened the first public trial in the 2022 Nord Stream sabotage. Prosecutors have accused a 50-year-old former Ukrainian special forces officer of leading divers and an explosives expert to plant timed charges under the Baltic Sea and of committing a war crime. The defendant denies involvement and Kyiv has rejected the allegations.