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CNN —Germany’s governing coalition has collapsed after disagreements over the country’s weak economy led Chancellor Olaf Scholz to sack his finance minister. The coalition has been at loggerheads over how to revive Germany’s economy. What problems is Germany’s economy facing? Germany’s economy, Europe’s largest, shrank last year for the first time since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic. Party leader Alice Weidel has already hailed the coalition’s collapse as a “liberation” for Germany.

Persons: Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Christian Lindner’s, Scholz, Donald Trump, Europe’s, Angela Merkel, Gerhard Schröder, Merkel, Christian Lindner, Christoph Soeder, Friedrich Merz, Lindner, Liesa Johannssen, “ Lindner, ” Lindner, ”, Carsten Brzeski, “, Robert Habeck, Annegret Hilse, Merz, Alice Weidel, ” Weidel Organizations: CNN, Free Democrats Party, Scholz’s Social Democratic Party, SPD, Green Party, CDU, Trump, Social Democratic Party, Greens, ING, Volkswagen, CDU –, Christian Democratic Union, Party Locations: Germany, Germany’s, Nazi, Thuringia, France, Italy, Ukraine, China, ”

☆ German voters fend off far-right in latest state vote, early results suggest
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-23 | by ( Https | Media-Cldnry.S-Nbcnews.Com Image Upload Newscms | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +4 min

“Dietmar Woidke and his Brandenburg SPD have made a furious comeback in recent weeks,” said SPD General Secretary Kevin Kuehnert. “For us in the federal SPD, this evening, if things go well, the problems that lie ahead of us will not have gotten any bigger. SPD party members and supporters react during the publication of exit polls in Potsdam. Provisional official results suggested it had gained 5.7 percentage points since the last Brandenburg election in 2019. With the Greens failing to re-enter Brandenburg state parliament, Woidke’s SPD cannot continue its coalition with the CDU and Greens.

Persons: Olaf Scholz’s, Scholz, “, ” Scholz, Dietmar Woidke, “ Dietmar Woidke, ”, Kevin Kuehnert, Tobias Schwarz, Woidke, Tino Chrupalla, Sahra Wagenknecht Organizations: Olaf Scholz’s Social Democrats, SPD, State, Politico, United Nations, Brandenburg SPD, ARD, ZDF, Communist, Getty, Provisional, Greens, Free Democrats, CDU Locations: Brandenburg, Germany, Berlin, New York, Ukraine, Potsdam, Russia, Thuringia, Saxony, Europe

☆ Europe could be drifting into a downturn as France and Germany fight economic and political woes
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-23 | by ( Holly Ellyatt | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Europe could be drifting in to a downturn as its biggest economies, Germany and France, fight political and economic woes at home. In Germany, composite purchasing manager's index (PMI data) measuring business activity in both sectors, came in at XXXX, down from XXX in August. In France, meanwhile, the composite PMI fell in September to an eight-month low of 47.4 from 53.1 in August. In the euro zone as a whole, the PMI data showed a decline from XXX last month to XXX, in September. Once Europe's poster-child for growth, Germany is now likened to the "sick man" of Europe by economists.

Persons: Pariser, —, Chancellor Olaf Scholz's, J.P, Greg Fuzesi Organizations: Pariser Platz, PMI, Social Democratic Party, SPD Locations: Berlin, Germany, Europe, France, Brandenberg, Thuringia, Saxony, Morgan

☆ Far-right group that invokes Nazi past on track for more state election success in Germany
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-22 | by ( Https | Media-Cldnry.S-Nbcnews.Com Image Upload Newscms | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +3 min

The AfD became the first far-right party to win a state election in Germany since World War II, in Thuringia, on Sept. 1 and just missed first place in Saxony. Hans-Christoph Berndt, the AfD candidate for Brandenburg state premier, cast his ballot on Sunday in the town of Golssen, south of Berlin, expressing optimism about his party’s prospects with increased support compared to 2019. Narrow the gapIn recent weeks, the SPD has managed to narrow the gap with the AfD, opinion polls have shown. AfD party leader Tino Chrupalla said Scholz should do the same. “It is high time this government suffer the consequences after this state election,” Chrupalla said.

Persons: Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s, Hans, Christoph Berndt, we've, ” Berndt, won’t, Scholz, Brandenburg’s, Dietmar Woidke, Woidke, pollster Forschungsgruppe Wahlen, ” Woidke, Tino Chrupalla, ” Chrupalla Organizations: Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s Social Democrats, Communist, Brandenburg, Social Democrats, SPD, Sahra Wagenknecht, Scholz’s, Free Democrats, Greens Locations: German, Brandenburg, Germany, Thuringia, Saxony, Europe, Ukraine, Scholz’s, Golssen, Berlin, Potsdam

☆ Exit polls suggest reprieve for Germany’s Scholz, as his party looks set to fend off far right in state vote
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-22 | by ( ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

BERLIN Reuters —German Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s Social Democrats (SPD) looked set to fend off the far right in a state election in Brandenburg on Sunday after trailing behind the Alternative for Germany (AfD) throughout the campaign, exit polls indicated. “Dietmar Woidke and his Brandenburg SPD have made a furious comeback in recent weeks,” said SPD party general secretary Kevin Kuehnert. “For us in the federal SPD, this evening, if things go well, the problems that lie ahead of us will not have gotten any bigger. The SPD is polling just 15% at national level, down from the 25.7% it scored in the 2021 federal election. Maryam Majd/Getty Images/FileNo time for complacencyThe vote in Brandenburg comes three weeks after the Russia-friendly AfD became the first far-right party to top a state election in Germany since World War Two, in Thuringia.

Persons: Olaf Scholz’s, Scholz, Dietmar Woidke, “ Dietmar Woidke, ”, Kevin Kuehnert, Olaf Scholz, Maryam Majd, Woidke, Tino Chrupalla, Sahra Wagenknecht Organizations: BERLIN Reuters —, Olaf Scholz’s Social Democrats, SPD, ZDF, Brandenburg SPD, ARD, Communist, Greens, Free Democrats Locations: Brandenburg, Germany, Berlin, Ukraine, Russia, Thuringia, Saxony, Europe

These are now the new realities on all of Germany’s land borders. On September 16, Berlin ordered the “temporary reintroduction of border control” at Germany’s borders with Belgium, Holland, Luxembourg, France and Denmark. The calls for more checks on Germany’s borders also mark a step-change at the heart of the European Union from Merkel’s policies. In 2015, the long-serving, and ever popular former German chancellor Merkel opened Germany’s borders to migrants fleeing their homes - at the time largely Syrians because of the country’s civil war. The moves by Merkel became known as Wilkommenskulturand and set Germany apart on the world stage in liberal migration policy.

Persons: ” Slubice, “, Tom Knie, Olaf Scholz, ” –, Angela Merkel, Patrick Pleul, Bjoern Hoecke, ”, Victory, Alice Weidel, Scholz, …, ” Raphael Bossong, Merkel, Maja Hitij, Knaus, ” Knaus Organizations: CNN, German Federal, European Union, Getty, German Institute of International and Security Affairs, Scholz’s Social Democratic Party, Police, “ Locations: Frankfurt, der, “ Frankfurt, ”, Polish, German Federal Republic, Poland, Germany, Berlin, Germany’s, Belgium, Holland, Luxembourg, France, Denmark, Austria, Czech Republic, Switzerland, Oder, Manheim, Solingen, Thuringia, East, Saxony, Brandenburg, “ Germany

☆ German Court Fines Far-Right Leader for Using Nazi Phrase
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-14 | by ( Christopher F. Schuetze | More About Christopher F. Schuetze | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

A German court on Tuesday found a prominent far-right politician from the Alternative for Germany party guilty of using a banned Nazi slogan during a campaign speech in 2021. A panel of four judges sentenced the politician, Björn Höcke, head of the Alternative for Germany party in the eastern state of Thuringia, to a fine of 13,000 euros, roughly $14,000. The trial, in the city of Halle, has been closely watched in Germany as the far-right nationalist party, known as the AfD, stands to make major gains in state elections in September. During the trial, which began last month, Mr. Höcke admitted to using the phrase “Everything for Germany” but claimed that he had not known about its Nazi origin. The slogan was used by the paramilitary wing of the Nazi party, which engraved it on their knives.

Persons: Björn Höcke, Höcke, Germany ” Organizations: Germany, Nazi Locations: Germany, Nazi, Thuringia, Halle

☆ German Far-Right Leader Goes on Trial for Nazi Slogans
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-18 | by ( Erika Solomon | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

One of Germany’s most prominent far-right leaders, Björn Höcke, stands trial on Thursday, facing charges of using banned Nazi slogans at political rallies. Using National Socialist slogans and symbols is a punishable crime in Germany, which, because of the legacy of Hitler’s rise to power, has a far more restrictive approach to free speech compared to democracies like the United States. Mr. Höcke heads the far-right Alternative for Germany, known by its German abbreviation, AfD, in the state of Thuringia. He is facing trial for using the slogan “Everything for Germany” at a speech in the eastern state of Saxony, where he is being put on trial. It was the slogan of the National Socialist paramilitary group, or Storm Troopers, and was engraved on their knives.

Persons: Björn, Höcke Organizations: Socialist, Germany ”, National Socialist, Storm Locations: Germany, United States, Thuringia, Saxony

☆ Björn Höcke: Far-right German politician on trial accused of using banned Nazi slogans
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-18 | by ( Lindsay Isaac | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

CNN —A far-right German politician has gone on trial accused of using banned Nazi slogans at two rallies dating back to 2021. Björn Höcke, leader of the regional branch of Alternative for Germany party (AfD) in the eastern state of Thuringia, is accused of ending a May 2021 election event in Merseburg by shouting the Socialist Nationalist slogan, “Everything for our homeland, everything for Saxony-Anhalt, everything for Germany,” according to the regional court of Halle. Prosecutors allege that although he was aware the slogan is banned in Germany, and despite already facing criminal charges related to the first instance, Höcke went on to use it a second time at an AfD event in December 2023. In that incident he allegedly shouted to the crowd: “Everything for” and incited the audience to reply “Germany.”Prosecutors also claim Höcke was aware of the phrase’s origins as the slogan for the Nazi paramilitary wing. Höcke, a former history teacher, intends to run as the lead candidate for the AfD in the upcoming state elections in Thuringia in September.

Persons: Björn Höcke, Höcke, ” Prosecutors, ”, Elon Musk, ” Hans, Christoph Berndt Organizations: CNN, Germany, Socialist Nationalist, Prosecutors, ”, Nazi Locations: Thuringia, Merseburg, Saxony, Anhalt, Germany, Halle, Brandenburg

☆ Inside a meeting of Germany’s far-right AfD: Beer, bratwurst and conspiracy
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-08 | by ( Sebastian Shukla | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Outside the hall, people grabbed a beer and a bratwurst before taking their seats inside, ignoring calls from the protesters down the road to come and talk. They came for an evening of conversation with the Alternative fur Deutschland (AfD), Germany’s leading far-right party. To one camp, this meeting represented a call for political change; to the other, a risk to German democracy. The AfD has officially tried to distance itself from the reports, saying it was not an official party meeting. But the AfD knows it has a struggle on its hands, as opponents of the party vow to keep protesting.

Persons: Germany’s, Adam, “, Chris Stern, Bessin, Lars Hunich, Marlon, Berndt, Hans, Christoph Berndt, he’s, ”, Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Scholz, Nouripour, Dr Berndt, Hitler, Conspiracy, wouldn’t Organizations: CNN, Adam Sevens, ”, CNN Coalition of, Green, East Germany –, ” Protesters, Sevens Locations: Brandeburg, Germany, Freienthal, Netherlands, Italy, Berlin, Brandenburg, Potsdam, Brandenburg’s, Frienthal, East Germany, East Germany – Brandenburg, Thuringia, Saxony

BERLIN (AP) — At least 150,000 people gathered in front of the German national parliament Saturday afternoon to protest against the far right, the latest in a string of large weekend demonstrations across Germany. Some members of the far-right Alternative for Germany party, or AfD, were present at the meeting. Saturday’s protest drew more participants than organizers expected, despite intermittent rain showers in the German capital. Similar protests against the far right in other German cities, including the southern city of Freiburg and the western city of Hannover, also drew thousands of attendees on Saturday. Polls show AfD is the top party in eastern Germany, including in the states of Brandenburg, Saxony and Thuringia, which are scheduled to hold elections this fall.

Persons: —, ”, Jonas Schmidt, Kathrin, Olaf Scholz Organizations: BERLIN, Germany, Police, Bundestag Locations: Germany, Freiburg, Hannover, Bremen, Brandenburg, Saxony, Thuringia, Hamburg, Munich

More than 1 million people attended protests across Germany over the weekend, showing their opposition to a right-wing political party that most recently discussed the deportation of large numbers of foreign-born residents. The demonstrations against the Alternative for Germany, or AfD, party, have now continued into a second week nationwide. What Is the Alternative for Germany Party? The anti-immigrant, far-right party, founded in 2013 and now led by the German politician Alice Weidel, has been gaining polling ground. What Does Recent German Polling Show?

Persons: –, Martin Sellner, Olaf Scholz, Alice Weidel Organizations: People, Bundestag, Reuters, Deutsche Welle, Christian Democratic Union, Germany Party, News Locations: Germany, Munich, Berlin, Europe, France, Potsdam –, Austrian, German, Nazi, Germany's, Thuringia, Saxony, Brandenburg, U.S

BERLIN (AP) — A protest against the far right in the German city of Munich Sunday afternoon ended early due to safety concerns after approximately 100,000 people showed up, police said. The demonstration was one of dozens around the country this weekend that drew hundreds of thousands of people in total. Some members of the far-right Alternative for Germany party, or AfD, were present at the meeting. And Saturday protests in other German cities like Stuttgart, Nuremberg and Hannover drew tens of thousands of people. The large turnout around Germany showed how these protests are galvanizing popular opposition to the AfD in a new way.

Persons: Germany’s, Martin Sellner, Alice Weidel, Frank, Walter Steinmeier, ” Organizations: BERLIN, Germany, Hannover, Identitarian, Identitarian Movement, Austrian Locations: German, Munich, Cologne, Berlin, Hamburg, Stuttgart, Nuremberg, Germany, Brandenburg, Saxony, Thuringia

The demonstrations came in the wake of a report that right-wing extremists recently met to discuss the deportation of millions of immigrants, including some with German citizenship. Some members of the far-right Alternative for Germany party, or AfD, were present at the meeting. Additional protests planned for Sunday in other major German cities, including Berlin, Munich and Cologne, are also expected to draw tens of thousands of people. What started out as relatively small gatherings have grown into protests that, in many cases, are drawing far more participants than organizers expected. The protests also build on growing anxiety over the last year about the AfD’s rising support among the German electorate.

Persons: Germany’s, Martin Sellner, Alice Weidel, Chancellor Olaf Scholz, ” Scholz, ” Friedrich Merz, ”, Thomas Tuchel Organizations: BERLIN, Germany, Police, Hannover, Identitarian, Identitarian Movement, Austrian, Germany’s Greens, “, Christian, Bayern Munich Locations: Germany, Frankfurt, Stuttgart, Nuremberg, Hamburg, Berlin, Munich, Cologne, Nazi, Bavaria, Hesse, Brandenburg, Saxony, Thuringia, Dresden, Tuebingen, Kiel

☆ Germany’s far-right AfD face mounting protests over plan to deport migrants
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-20 | by ( Sophie Tanno | Nadine Schmidt | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Protests of up to 30,000 people have already taken place in cities including Berlin, Leipzig, Rostock, Essen and Cologne. Demonstrators gathered outside the capital’s redbrick town hall on Wednesday holding placards reading “Nazis out” and chanting slogans against far-right AfD politician Björn Höcke. The gathering of AfD members, neo-Nazis and other far-right extremists took place at a lakeside hotel outside the city of Potsdam on November 25. The AfD told CNN that the two “separated with mutual agreement.”However, the idea of a “mass deportation plan” was openly supported by one AfD representative in the state of Brandenberg. Sebastian Christoph Gollnow/picture alliance/dpa/Getty ImagesAsked whether he thought the protests would encourage people to stop voting for the AfD, Abaci was hopeful.

Persons: Björn Höcke, Annalena Baerbock, Olaf Scholz, Sebastian Christoph Gollnow, Correctiv, ”, Alice Weidel, Roland Hartwig –, René Springer, Christian Dürr, Rika von Gierke, “, ” “, ’, It’s, ” Kazin, ” Chancellor Scholz, Baerbock, Abaci, Scholz, Robert Habeck, Stern, –, Nadine Schmidt, Sophie Tanno Organizations: Berlin CNN, Potsdam Sunday, CNN, Free Democrats Party, ” Locations: Germany, Berlin, Leipzig, Rostock, Essen, Cologne, Potsdam, Brandenberg, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Nazi, Thuringia, Saxony, Brandenburg, London

Now, many are warning that the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party is capitalizing on the chaos for its own political gain. Sean Gallup/Getty ImagesA tractor displays a banner with the logo of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party that reads: "Germany needs new elections!" “Supporting democratic protests like this against traffic light madness will continue to be a concern of our hearts,” one post reads. The traffic light will soon be standing all alone.”The “traffic light” is a reference to Scholz’s coalition government – an allusion to the colors of the Social Democratic Party (SPD), the Free Democratic Party (FDP) and the Greens it is comprised of. Far-right coup fantasiesGerman ministers and a domestic intelligence chief have warned how right-wing extremists could try to exploit the farmers’ protests.

Persons: Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s, Kirill Kudryavtsev, Sean Gallup, Martin, ” Steven, Björn Höcke, Scholz, Johannes Kiess, ” Kiess, Jens Schlueter, Kiess, Robert Habeck, ” “, ” Habeck, Kay Nietfeld, Stephan Kramer, –, ” Kramer, ”, Nadine Schmidt, Claudia Otto, Sophie Tanno Organizations: Germany CNN — Farmers, Farmers, Getty, Social Democratic Party, SPD, Free Democratic Party, Greens, Germany’s Office, Homeland, Deutsche, University of Leipzig, CNN, “, Ukraine, Tractors, CDU, CSU, Christian Democratic Union, Christian Social Locations: Berlin, Germany, Frankfurt, AFP, Brandenburg, Hamburg, Cologne, Bremen, Nuremberg, Munich, Rügen, Pomerania, Thuringia, Berlin ., Dresden, Saxony, Deutsche Bahn, Cottbus, Torgau, London

☆ Germany, France and Italy reach agreement on future AI regulation
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-18 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

The three governments are in favor of binding voluntary commitments for both large and small AI providers in the European Union. The European Commission, the European Parliament and the EU Council are currently negotiating how the bloc should position itself in this new field. During the discussions, the European Parliament proposed that the code of conduct should initially only be binding for major AI providers, which are primarily from the U.S. However, the three EU governments have warned against this apparent competitive advantage for smaller European providers. This could lead to less trust in the security of these smaller providers and therefore fewer customers, they said.

Organizations: Reuters, European Union, The European Commission, EU Council, Ministry, Ministry of Digital Affairs Locations: Germany, France, Italy, Europe, Jena, Thuringia, Berlin

☆ Exclusive: Germany, France and Italy reach agreement on future AI regulation
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-18 | by ( Andreas Rinke | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The three governments are in favour of binding voluntary commitments for both large and small AI providers in the European Union. The European Commission, the European Parliament and the EU Council are currently negotiating how the bloc should position itself in this new field. During the discussions, the European Parliament proposed that the code of conduct should initially only be binding for major AI providers, which are primarily from the U.S. However, the three EU governments have warned against this apparent competitive advantage for smaller European providers. Issues surrounding AI will be on the agenda when the German and Italian governments hold talks in Berlin on Wednesday.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Andreas Rinke, Maria Martinez, Mike Harrison Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Reuters, European Union, The European Commission, EU Council, Ministry, Ministry of Digital Affairs, Thomson Locations: Germany, France, Italy, Europe, Jena, Thuringia, Berlin

☆ This EV battery stock has potential double-digit gains ahead. UBS thinks it could even surge 100%
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-12 | by ( Evelyn Cheng | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Nomura has a price target of 315 yuan — for an upside of nearly 67% from Friday's close. Even after trimming their price target on the buy-rated stock, the analysts have a price target of 266 yuan — just over 40% upside from Friday's close. They have a price target of 284 yuan, or 50% upside from Friday's close. More products coming to market The company already has just over a third of the global EV battery market, with more products on the way, according to Counterpoint Research. Li Auto, which reported record deliveries in October that beat out Tesla , is launching its first purely battery-powered vehicle in December — with a new CATL battery called Qilin.

Persons: That's, Nomura, CATL, FactSet, Peter Richardson, Li Auto, Tesla, — CNBC's Michael Bloom Organizations: Amperex Technology, BMW, Tesla, Union, HSBC, Revenue, VW, Mercedes, Benz, EV, Jefferies, Research, Chery, UBS Locations: Shenzhen, Friday's, EU, Thuringia, Hungary, —, Jiangxi

☆ Germany's political landscape is shifting, with the far-right AfD party ahead in the polls
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-03 | by ( Hannah Ward-Glenton | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

The AFD party leadership (front row) holds a banner reading OUR LAND FIRST! during a protest against the rising cost of living in a demonstration organized by the right-wing Alternative for Germany (AfD) political party on October 8, 2022 in Berlin, Germany. The Christian Democratic Union party (CDU), formerly led by chancellor of 16 years, Angela Merkel, currently polls the highest. "First of all you need a political will to stop it and we don't see this will among the other parties. "There is a backlash clearly … The population is now moving to the right," Sinn said, referring to the popularity of the AfD.

Persons: Omer Messinger, Angela Merkel, Robert Lambrou, Lambrou, CNBC's Annette Weisbach, Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Manfred Knof, Hans, Werner Sinn, Sinn Organizations: Getty, Social Democrats, Greens, Free Democrats, Christian Democratic Union, CDU, CNBC, Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs, Handelsblatt Locations: Germany, Berlin, Hesse, Frankfurt, Bavaria, Munich, Sonneberg, Thuringia, Europe

☆ AfD's Regional Budget Win Erodes German 'Firewall' Against Far Right
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-15 | by ( Sept. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +3 min

By Thomas EscrittERFURT, Germany (Reuters) - The convention by which Germany's far right is kept far from government regardless of how many parliamentary seats it wins was dealt another blow on Thursday when its votes were used to defeat a regional government in a crucial budget bill. Thursday's vote in Thuringia's parliament, when the far right, the conservative Christian Democrats and the pro-business Free Democrats combined to push through a tax cut against the wishes of the left-wing coalition, is the latest sign of change. But, highlighting the dilemma, the regional CDU leader Mario Voigt said such a course of action would effectively deprive him of the right to oppose. The party's regional leader, Bjorn Hoecke, is currently on trial for hate speech after uttering a slogan that stems from a Nazi chant. "We democrats have to stop the finger-pointing, sit down together and find a position that lives up to that responsibility."

Persons: Thomas Escritt, Germany's, Bodo Ramelow, Mario Voigt, Bjorn Hoecke, Stephan Kramer, Daniel Guenther, Rachel More, Nick Macfie Organizations: Christian Democrats, Free Democrats, CDU, Frankfurter Allgemeine Locations: Thomas Escritt ERFURT, Germany, Thuringia's, Thuringian, Sonneberg, Saxony, Anhalt, Thuringia, East Germany, West Germany, Brandenburg, Berlin, Schlweswig, Holstein

AfD members sit in voting booths on the day of the European election assembly 2023 of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) in Magdeburg, Germany, July 29, 2023. Thursday's vote in Thuringia's parliament, when the far right, the conservative Christian Democrats and the pro-business Free Democrats combined to push through a tax cut against the wishes of the left-wing coalition, is the latest sign of change. But, highlighting the dilemma, the regional CDU leader Mario Voigt said such a course of action would effectively deprive him of the right to oppose. The party's regional leader, Bjorn Hoecke, is currently on trial for hate speech after uttering a slogan that stems from a Nazi chant. "We democrats have to stop the finger-pointing, sit down together and find a position that lives up to that responsibility."

Persons: Annegret, Germany's, Bodo Ramelow, Mario Voigt, Bjorn Hoecke, Stephan Kramer, Daniel Guenther, Thomas Escritt, Rachel More, Nick Macfie Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Christian Democrats, Free Democrats, CDU, Frankfurter Allgemeine, Thomson Locations: Germany, Magdeburg, Rights ERFURT, Thuringia's, Thuringian, Sonneberg, Saxony, Anhalt, Thuringia, East Germany, West Germany, Brandenburg, Berlin, Schlweswig, Holstein

CNN —As Germany’s far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) grows ever popular, the country’s once dominant Christian Democratic Union (CDU) party finds itself at a crossroads. The center-right CDU was in power for much of Germany’s post-war era and oversaw the reunification of East and West Germany. Max Schwarz/ReutersBerlin’s CDU mayor, Kai Wegner, took to X to write: “What cooperation is there to be had? Populist parties as ‘lightning rods’The CDU’s Michael Kretschmer, state premier of Saxony, believes a shift in policy is the best approach for democratic parties to stop the rise of the far-right. Opinion polls in his state, one of the five that make up Germany’s former east, put the AfD in the lead; Saxony has long been a stronghold for the far-right party.

Persons: Angela Merkel, Friedrich Merz, shockwaves, Merz, Merz backpedaled, ”, Robert Sesselmann, Max Schwarz, Kai Wegner, Jörg, “, ” “, Kühne, ” Tino Chrupalla, John MacDougall, Merkel, it’s, sadi, Michael Kretschmer, Kretschmer Organizations: CNN, Christian Democratic Union, CDU, East, Social, Green Party and Free Democrats, ZDF, Reuters Berlin’s CDU, INSA, New, SPD, Greens, ARD, Bundestag, Getty, Federal Criminal Police, UN, UNHCR, “, Citizens Locations: Germany, West Germany, Sonneberg, Thuringia, Germany’s, Saxony, Leipzig, West, East Germany, East Germans, West Germans, Saxony Anhalt, Ukraine, Poland, Syria

☆ Rise of Far Right Leaves Germany’s Conservatives at a Crossroads
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-26 | by ( Catie Edmondson | More About Catie Edmondson | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Mario Voigt, a leader of Germany’s mainstream conservative party, has watched with concern the slow but steady string of victories notched by the far-right Alternative for Germany, known as the AfD. In his home state of Thuringia, in eastern Germany, the AfD just last month won the district administrator’s seat, giving the far right bureaucratic authority over an area for the first time. Since the spring, the AfD has only gathered momentum. The party has gained at least four points in polls since May, rising to 20 percent support and overtaking the country’s governing center-left Social Democrats to become Germany’s second-strongest party. A more recent poll, released on Sunday, put the AfD at a record high of 22 percent support.

Persons: Mario Voigt, Voight’s, Angela Merkel Organizations: Social Democrats, Christian Democratic Union Locations: Germany, Thuringia

CNN —A candidate from the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party won a local leadership post for the first time on Sunday in a resounding victory for a group whose anti-migrant, Euroskeptic and anti-Muslim agenda is under surveillance by German authorities. The AfD’s Robert Sesselmann triumphed over incumbent Jürgen Köpper of the conservative Christian Democratic Union (CDU) party to become district administrator of Sonneberg, in Thuringia, central Germany, at the weekend. “Unfortunately, it has not been a personal election as state elections have always been, it has become a pure party election,” he said. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s Social Democratic Party’s chairwoman Saskia Esken called the AfD victory in Sonneberg a “political dam-break” on Monday. Even though the move doesn’t apply to parent party AfD, it revealed a growing segment of young Germans united by extreme views on migration and anti-feminism.

Persons: Robert Sesselmann, Jürgen Köpper, Sesselmann, Köpper, ”, Olaf Scholz’s, Saskia Esken, Ricarda Lang, ” Lang, Mario Czaja, Steffen Hebestreit, ” Hebestreit, ‘, BfV, Martin Schutt, Hans Vorländer, ” Vorländer, Alice Weidel Organizations: CNN, Christian Democratic Union, CDU, Office, Statistics, Olaf Scholz’s Social Democratic, Green Party, Getty Locations: Germany, Thuringia, Thuringian, Sonneberg, Ukraine, Dresden, Berlin “, Saxony

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