Christian Democratic Union of Germany
BMW canceled the lease of an official car for Tobias Rausch after he was elected speaker of the Saxony-Anhalt state parliament. The company did not give a reason.
The 35-year-old Tobias Rausch of the AfD was elected speaker of the Saxony-Anhalt parliament. He was supported by 48 of the 83 lawmakers.
Support for the AfD rose to 30%, while support for the CDU/CSU fell to 18%. 79% of Germans are dissatisfied with the work of the chancellor and the government.
40% of Germans called the AfD more dangerous for democracy, while 31% said the same of Die Linke. A political scientist considers both parties a threat to the country.
AfD won in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania with more than 38% of the vote, while the CDU failed to clear the threshold. Merz acknowledged the defeat but will remain in power.
In Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, the AfD is leading with 37%, while in Berlin, The Left is ahead with 24. 5%, exit polls show.
48% of respondents expect Chancellor Friedrich Merz to resign by the end of the year. His CDU risks suffering further defeats in regional elections.
The CDU received 27. 2% of the vote and remained the strongest force in Lower Saxony. The AfD came in third with a record 15.9% for the party.
Support for Friedrich Merz is declining among Germans and fellow party members. Markus Söder is gaining popularity in the CDU, while Boris Pistorius is leading in the SPD.
AfD received 44% in the elections in Saxony-Anhalt and nearly doubled its support. Trump called the party's result excellent.
The AfD won 44. 5% of the vote in the elections in Saxony-Anhalt, compared with 20.8% in 2021. Merz's CDU received 18.5%.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz presented partial personnel changes in the government. The changes come amid a decline in the coalition's rating and growing support for the far-right AfD.
The authorities of Lower Saxony allowed Framatome to produce fuel assemblies with components from the Russian "Rosatom". The permit includes strict restrictions to prevent espionage, but has drawn criticism from politicians.
Merz's sources called the rumors of his replacement 'absurd speculation. ' Earlier, media reports suggested the possible appointment of Wüst, Söder, or Spahn.
Trump plans to withdraw significantly more troops from Germany than expected. German authorities and media report a deterioration in relations between the countries.
The Green Party won 30. 4% of the votes, ahead of the CDU with 29.7%. The far-right AfD came in third, and the SPD barely crossed the threshold.
The far-right AfD party has sparked a scandal by questioning the German government about critical vulnerabilities in NATO's defense. This move is seen as fulfilling a "Kremlin's task list," providing Moscow with a strategic advantage.
Friedrich Merz was re-elected as the leader of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) in Stuttgart, receiving 91. 17% of the votes. The vote took place on February 20, but due to technical glitches and a second round, the results were announced late.
Friedrich Merz confirmed unwavering support for Ukraine and condemned the criminal Russian regime. He called for a new European security strategy based on realism.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has warned the US against igniting a tariff war and expressed hope for a partnership with China. He plans to discuss this issue with Donald Trump in Washington and with Chinese leaders during a visit to China.
Berlin Mayor Kai Wegner played tennis during a blackout that affected 45,000 households. The opposition is calling for his resignation, but Wegner states that he was in contact and restored power ahead of schedule.
The head of the German parliament's foreign policy committee, Armin Laschet, stated the need for a German-French initiative to coordinate European plans for a ceasefire in Ukraine. He emphasized that Europe must develop its own strong foreign and security policy, agreed upon with Ukraine, which could then be presented to Russia from a position of strength.
On December 17, 2025, German lawmakers plan to approve a record package of arms contracts worth over 50 billion euros. This funding is aimed at creating the strongest army in Europe and covers basic equipment, high-tech weapons, and air defense systems.
German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul stated that Ukraine might have to make "painful concessions" to end Russian aggression, suggesting a referendum could be held. He noted that diplomacy must produce compromises that the parties to the conflict can support.
Germany's Federal Minister of Agriculture, Alois Rainer, was forced to return to Germany due to technical problems with the Global 5000 aircraft. His visit to the USA has been canceled, and the minister will travel on a commercial flight.
Sahra Wagenknecht, known for her criticism of aid to Ukraine, is stepping down as head of the BSW party. She will lead the commission on fundamental values, and Fabio De Masi will be her successor.
The popularity of German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has fallen to 25%, a record low since the government was formed. This comes amid growing dissatisfaction with migration policy and deteriorating economic expectations in Germany.
After Ukraine lifted the travel ban for men aged 18-22, the number of asylum applications in Germany increased from 100 to a thousand per week. This has caused concern among regional authorities, especially in Bavaria, where demands for stricter migration control are growing.
Germany is discussing the reintroduction of military service, proposing a lottery system for conscription if there are not enough volunteers. Defense Minister Boris Pistorius expressed dissatisfaction with the compromise, considering it impractical.
In Germany, politicians and the Economic Union question the appropriateness of Reformation Day as a non-working day, citing the economic crisis. However, there are also those who advocate for maintaining or even expanding the number of holidays.