Manuela Schwesig
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- 5d ago
German states press Berlin to cut electricity tax for all households
On 22 October 2026, state premiers meeting in Berlin asked the federal government to cut the electricity tax for everyone as quickly as possible, while Thuringia added a demand to suspend CO2 pricing on fuel and heating.
- 5d ago
Tax estimate adds 4.1 billion euros for federal 2027, but Klingbeil sees no new room
Germany's autumn tax forecast raises federal revenue for 2027 by 4.1 billion euros. Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil says the extra money does not free up room for new relief, and coalition talks on the electricity tax cut remain open.
- Oct 20
AfD loses Landtag presidency vote in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern as SPD's Birgit Hesse wins 39 of 70 votes
The AfD finished first in the September state election but failed to take the Landtag presidency, which went to SPD member Birgit Hesse. The new parliament also adopted rules that allow fines for misconduct.
- Oct 17
Mecklenburg-Vorpommern coalition plans fewer civil servants and 1,000 state job cuts
Negotiators from the SPD, the Left and the Greens agreed to limit civil service appointments to four areas and to leave about 1,000 state posts unfilled. The parties say the moves would save roughly 125 million euros.
- Oct 15
SPD to elect entire leadership at Bremen congress on 16 and 17 January after Bas quits
Bärbel Bas has stepped down as SPD co-chair and labour minister, and the party plans to elect its entire leadership at a congress in Bremen in mid-January.
- Oct 13
Steinmeier appoints Alexander Schweitzer labour minister after Bärbel Bas resigns
Frank-Walter Steinmeier handed Alexander Schweitzer his appointment certificate on Tuesday, 13 October, a day after Bärbel Bas stepped down as minister and SPD chair. Chancellor Friedrich Merz wants pension and labour market bills in cabinet quickly, and the succession at the top of the SPD remains open.
- Oct 9
SPD, Linke and Greens in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern agree to start coalition talks
Negotiators recommended coalition talks on Friday, nearly three weeks after the 20 September state election in which the AfD came first with 38.2% of the vote.
- Sep 30
German cabinet approves care reform raising childless contribution rate to 4.5%
Germany's federal cabinet has approved a package to stabilize long-term care insurance finances from 2027, increasing contributions for childless workers and high earners while establishing an expert commission for broader structural reforms.
- Sep 26
German health minister proposes reducing child sick days to pre-pandemic level
Federal Health Minister Carsten Linnemann plans to let expanded pandemic-era leave expire, returning the entitlement to 10 days per parent despite opposition from state ministers.
- Sep 21
Die Linke wins Berlin state election as AfD finishes first in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania
Die Linke secured 25.7% of the vote in Berlin on 20 September 2026, while the Alternative for Germany won in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania with 38%.
- Sep 21
CDU exits Mecklenburg parliament and loses Berlin as AfD and Die Linke advance
Chancellor Friedrich Merz rejected calls to resign after the CDU dropped below the 5% threshold in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and lost to Die Linke in Berlin on 20 September 2026.
- Sep 20
AfD wins in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania as Die Linke takes Berlin and CDU falls below 5%
The Alternative for Germany finished first in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania with 38.2% of the vote, while Die Linke won Berlin with 25.6%. Chancellor Friedrich Merz rejected calls to resign after the CDU fell below the 5% parliamentary threshold in Schwerin.
- Sep 20
AfD leads SPD in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern election as CDU drops near 5% threshold
Initial projections from the 2026 Mecklenburg-Vorpommern state election place the AfD slightly ahead of the SPD at 37% to 38%, while the CDU falls to approximately 5%.
- Sep 20
Mecklenburg-Vorpommern Opens State Election Polls as SPD and AfD Compete
Voting opened at 08:00 across Mecklenburg-Vorpommern for 1.3 million eligible voters, marking the first state election with voting permitted from age 16.
- Sep 5
Heavy rain forces Jamel rockt den Förster festival to cancel opening day in Mecklenburg
Persistent rainfall flooded the festival grounds in north-western Mecklenburg, halting stage operations and prompting emergency church shelters for arriving attendees.
- Aug 27
Schwarz Group plans 5.6 billion euro data center in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern
The Lidl owner will build a 240-megawatt computing facility in Dummerstorf near Rostock, powered by Baltic wind energy and connected by 2027.
- Aug 16
Klingbeil faces muted reception at SPD Pfalztreffen amid growing internal dissent over coalition course
Vice Chancellor Lars Klingbeil received a restrained welcome at the SPD's Pfalztreffen in Haßloch, where he defended the black-red coalition's course against mounting internal criticism over weak polling and contentious pension reforms.
- Jul 31
Germany deports 9,663 people in H1 2026, down from 11,800; AfD slams 'disaster'
Germany deported 9,663 people between January and June 2026, down from more than 11,800 in the same period last year, according to interior ministry figures. The opposition AfD called the migration policy a 'disaster', while Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt insisted the government's course is working.
- Jun 13
Schwesig secures 98.9% SPD nomination as Mecklenburg-Vorpommern braces for September election
SPD delegates in Wismar gave Manuela Schwesig a near-unanimous vote of confidence on Saturday. The incumbent minister-president now faces an AfD that leads by 9 points in polls, 14 weeks before election day.
