Boris Rhein
Photo: Steffen Prößdorf, CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons, cropped)
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- 4d ago
Merkel calls for a female federal president and criticises CDU economic course
In a MagentaTV interview with Johannes B. Kerner, former chancellor Angela Merkel argued that Germany should elect a woman as federal president. The Bundesversammlung votes on Steinmeier's successor on 30 January.
- 4d ago
Three construction vehicles burned at Rheinmetall site in Kassel-Calden, police suspect arson
Police in Hesse say the fire at the Kassel-Calden airport site, where Rheinmetall plans a logistics and drone test centre, was set deliberately. The state security unit has taken over the investigation.
- Oct 27
Merz insists CDU holds nomination right as Ines Claus is named for Steinmeier successor
Chancellor Friedrich Merz has made no decision on Steinmeier's successor, but his office insists the CDU, as the largest group in the Federal Assembly, holds the nomination right. The vote is set for 30 January 2027.
- Oct 27
Hesse CDU drops to 25% in poll, lowest ever, with AfD just two points behind
The hr-Hessentrend puts the CDU seven points down since February, with the Greens overtaking the SPD and the state coalition losing its parliamentary majority.
- Oct 13
Germany's cabinet approves two-tier sugar tax on sweetened drinks from July 2027
Germany's cabinet approved a sugar tax on sweetened drinks on Wednesday, 14 October 2026, a day after the coalition settled its dispute. The levy of 26 or 32 cents per litre is due to start on 1 July 2027 and still needs approval from the Bundestag.
- Oct 12
CDU presidium promises cheaper electricity for all after eastern state election defeats
The CDU presidium ended a two-day retreat in Berlin on Monday, 12 October, with a paper calling for a lower electricity tax for everyone. Chancellor Friedrich Merz admitted a crisis of trust after the party's September state election defeats.
- Oct 11
CDU presidium meets as Merz faces criticism over secret vote for AfD Landtag president
The CDU presidium meets Sunday and Monday as Friedrich Merz faces criticism over a secret vote in Saxony-Anhalt, where CDU members are suspected of having helped elect an AfD Landtag president.
- Oct 4
Boris Rhein urges CDU to allow AfD lawmakers to chair Bundestag committees
Hesse Minister President Boris Rhein has called on the CDU to support Alternative for Germany candidates for Bundestag committee chairs, while rejecting legal efforts to ban the party.
- Aug 27
Rheinmetall and Hesse announce 270 million euro defense expansion in Kassel and Calden
The project will build a 30,000-square-meter logistics hub, a drone testing facility, and expanded manufacturing capacity for up to 500 Boxer armored vehicles per year.
- Jun 21
Hessentag 2026 ends with 1.1 million visitors, sweltering parade and a handover to Idstein
Rain at the start, heat at the finish: the ten-day Hessentag state festival in Fulda closed Sunday with a parade and a visitor count of about 1.1 million, well above the 700,000 expected. Next year the event moves to Idstein in the Rheingau-Taunus district.
