- Aug 12
German cabinet approves sweeping intelligence reform granting spy agencies hacking and sabotage powers
Germany's cabinet approved a 700-page draft bill on August 12 granting the BND and BfV intelligence services broad new powers to hack communications, manipulate data, and conduct sabotage abroad, in what officials call the largest reform since World War II.
- Aug 7
ARD poll: AfD hits record 28% as Union slumps to 21%, government satisfaction at 13%
The AfD reaches 28 percent in the ARD-Deutschlandtrend, its highest ever, while the CDU/CSU falls to 21 percent and 85 percent of Germans express dissatisfaction with the federal government.
- Jul 27
Merz reshuffles CDU and cabinet: Franziska Hoppermann to become party general secretary, Linnemann moves to health ministry
Chancellor Friedrich Merz proposed the current party treasurer to the CDU presidium on Monday, part of a wider personnel package triggered by Jens Spahn's resignation as parliamentary group leader.
- Jul 26
Söder announces 2028 re-election bid, defends Merz's reshuffle, and warns against AfD cooperation
Bavarian premier Markus Söder used the ZDF Sommerinterview to confirm his 2028 candidacy, defend Chancellor Merz's cabinet reshuffle, and draw a sharp line against cooperation with the AfD, while also addressing the Berlin CSD attack.
- Jul 25
Linnemann, with 'hell of a respect', takes on health minister role despite own earlier doubts
Carsten Linnemann, previously unsure of his suitability, now accepts Germany's health ministry, promising to reduce the number of health insurance funds and stabilize social contributions.
- Jul 24
Merz reshuffles German cabinet after Spahn resignation, signals further changes before state votes
Chancellor Friedrich Merz replaced his chancellery chief and health minister on Friday, with the transport minister also expected to depart, as he seeks to revive his unpopular government before September regional elections.
- Jul 23
Merz reshuffles cabinet as CDU rebellion exposes chancellor's weakened grip
Chancellor Friedrich Merz replaced his transport and health ministers and installed a new parliamentary group leader after an 11-day reshuffle, but open criticism from senior CDU figures and a new pension row with eastern state premiers left his authority badly dented.
- Jul 20
German sick leave dips slightly in first half of 2026 as mental illness becomes top cause, DAK data shows
Average sick days per worker fell to 9.6 from 9.9 a year earlier, but the government is pushing stricter rules for sick notes, sparking protests from doctors.
- Jul 19
Jens Spahn resigns as CDU/CSU parliamentary leader after surrogacy backlash
The head of Germany's conservative parliamentary group stepped down on Saturday after his decision to have a child via a surrogate in the United States collided with his party's long-standing opposition to the practice.
- Jul 11
Markus Söder says Minijobs 'remain' in clash with German pension reform blueprint
CSU leader Markus Söder has broken with a government pension commission's call to abolish low-paid 'Minijobs', promising they will endure and warning of damage to hospitality, retail and farming.
- Jul 10
German parliament passes health insurance savings package, GPs warn of 'massive cuts' and 'pitch-black' care
Bundestag and Bundesrat approved the savings package on Friday. The head of the GP association says practices will now run 'massive cutting programmes' and predicts severe supply problems in rural areas.
- Jul 6
Germany's coalition softens health insurance reform, shifting burden to pharma and federal budget
Health Minister Nina Warken adjusts her savings package for statutory health insurance, reducing planned surcharges for families and co-payments while increasing contributions from the federal government and pharmaceutical industry.
- Jun 27
Nursing home residents evacuated in North Rhine-Westphalia as indoor temperatures reach 35°C during Germany heatwave
Firefighters rescue elderly residents in Dormagen and Krefeld after indoor temperatures reach 35°C and 50°C respectively, with the German Weather Service warning of up to 41°C on Saturday.
- Jun 27
Germany plans 20% alcohol tax rise, ignoring expert panel's call for 40% increase
Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil's draft law proposes a 20% increase on spirits and sparkling wine, while an expert commission had urged a hike of over 40%.
- Jun 22
German hospital association warns every second clinic could go bankrupt under reform savings
The German Hospital Association says government savings plans would cut revenues by 8% in 2027 and put 49% of locations at high failure risk by 2030, threatening 140,000 jobs.
- Jun 16
Statutory health insurers demand €2.5bn top-up to savings package or face contribution rises
Germany's statutory health insurers have warned that a planned government savings package must be expanded by at least €2.5 billion to prevent contribution increases next year, after first-quarter spending jumped 8%.
- Jun 12
Germany's health insurance reform faces blistering critique from opposition and states as Bundestag begins debate
Health Minister Nina Warken's proposal to close a €19 billion deficit in statutory health insurance draws a chorus of condemnation from Greens, Left, and AfD while federal states warn the cuts endanger rural hospitals and innovation.
- Jun 9
German employer chief demands pension brake as 4.2% rise takes effect and contribution rate nears 20%
Employer president Rainer Dulger calls for slower pension increases and a higher retirement age, warning that back-to-back rises above 4% are outpacing wages and prices.
- Jun 6
American doctor treated for Ebola in Berlin discharged after experimental therapy clears the virus
Peter Stafford, a 39-year-old American missionary surgeon, was discharged from Berlin's Charité hospital on 6 June after 17 days of treatment for the rare Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, which has no approved vaccine.
- May 26
Germany considers hiking long-term care insurance contributions for the childless to plug billion-euro deficit
Health Minister Nina Warken is exploring a 0.1-point increase in the surcharge for childless individuals, pushing their total contribution rate to 4.3 percent as the statutory long-term care insurance faces a deficit exceeding one billion euros this year.
