Nina Warken
German lawyer and politician
Photo: Steffen Prößdorf, CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons, cropped)
- Oct 5
Germany plans €550 per tonne plastic packaging tax from July 2027 to raise €1.5 billion
The ruling CDU/CSU and SPD coalition has drafted legislation imposing a €550 per tonne levy on plastic packaging to curb waste and raise up to €1.5 billion annually for the federal budget.
- Sep 26
German coalition deadlocked over care insurance reform ahead of cabinet review
Negotiations between the CDU/CSU and SPD stalled on 29 September 2026 over proposed cuts to statutory care insurance and rising nursing home costs.
- Sep 24
German lawmakers debate intelligence reform granting BND and BfV active cyber counterstrike powers
The German Bundestag held its first reading debate on 24 September 2026 on legislation that permits the BND and BfV to conduct offensive cyber operations against foreign threats.
- Sep 1
German care insurance faces 4.4 billion euro deficit as funds deplete in October
Germany's statutory long-term care insurance will run out of liquid funds in October 2026, leaving an uncovered funding requirement of 10 billion euros for 2027 as spending outpaces contribution revenues.
- 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%.