Olaf Lies
Photo: Provided by Olaf Lies, CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons, cropped)
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- 2d 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.
- Oct 16
France and Germany ease 2035 EU car CO2 target and widen Made in Europe rules
The compromise would cut new-car CO2 by 90% from 2035 instead of 100%, and could let Britain count as Made in Europe under a separate deal. The draft still has to win backing across the EU.
- Oct 9
Lower Saxony SPD leader Stefan Politze resigns after parliament lifts his immunity
Stefan Politze stepped down as head of the SPD parliamentary group in Lower Saxony on Thursday evening, a day after the Landtag in Hannover lifted his immunity. Prosecutors are investigating the sale of a former clinic site in Lehrte.
- Oct 5
Germany to build multibillion-euro naval base in Emden to expand North Sea operations
Defence Minister Boris Pistorius and Lower Saxony Minister President Olaf Lies signed an agreement to build a 750-hectare naval base in Emden by the early 2030s, creating berths for 27 vessels.
- Sep 5
Volkswagen approves restructuring plan to cut 100,000 jobs and phase out vehicle output at four German plants
The German automaker will eliminate approximately 100,000 positions globally and end car assembly across four domestic factories by 2034, reallocating vehicle lines to Central European plants.
- Aug 23
Lower Saxony premier Olaf Lies urges EU tariffs on Chinese hybrid cars
Lower Saxony Minister-President Olaf Lies has written to European and German leaders seeking import duties on Chinese plug-in hybrids, warning of a 70% export increase and market distortion.
- 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 27
Berlin Pride attack kills one, injures 29; Hamburg reviews security for next week's CSD parade
A car drove into a crowd at Berlin's Christopher Street Day celebrations late Saturday, killing a woman and injuring 29 people. Authorities have classified it as an Islamist terrorist attack, and Hamburg is reviewing security for its own Pride parade next weekend.
- Jul 22
Stade mass shooting suspect dies by suicide in custody, CDU demands answers from justice minister
The 45-year-old suspect in the Stade mass shooting that killed six people was found dead in his cell at Bremervörde prison on Tuesday morning. The CDU opposition accuses Lower Saxony's justice minister of serious failures, saying the man should have been under constant surveillance.
- Jun 25
Germany's federal and state governments agree to cover 80% of new municipal costs from September
After months of negotiations, Chancellor Merz and state premiers agreed on a 'who orders, pays' principle, with the federal government covering 80% of new costs imposed on municipalities from September 1.
- Jun 11
Braunschweig hosts Lower Saxony's state festival for the first time, expecting over 300,000 visitors
The 39th 'Tag der Niedersachsen' opens in Braunschweig from 12 to 14 June, marking the city's debut as host of the biennial state festival.
