- Oct 7
Thuringian parliament rejects AfD motion to dissolve state assembly
Lawmakers in Erfurt voted 34 to defeat an Alternative for Germany motion to dissolve the state parliament, falling far short of the 59 votes required for a two-thirds majority.
- Sep 30
German student rents rise 2.6% in 2026 as Munich flats reach 880 euros
Quality-adjusted student rents across 38 German university cities rose 2.6% in early 2026, leaving Munich as the priciest location at 880 euros and Chemnitz the cheapest at 280 euros.
- Aug 23
Volkswagen agrees to 100,000 job cuts and plant reviews under 2030 restructuring plan
The supervisory board approved a turnaround plan targeting a 9% operating margin by 2030, putting four German factories under review and halving the company model range by 2035.
- Aug 23
Ibug Street Art Festival Opens 20th Anniversary Edition at Riesa Feed Mill
More than 70 artists have transformed the decommissioned Muskator feed factory in Riesa into a temporary exhibition for the 20th edition of the Ibug festival, running through 6 September.
- Aug 22
Mario Voigt wins re-election as Thuringia CDU leader with 82.4% ahead of no-confidence vote
Thuringia Minister-President Mario Voigt won 82.4% of the vote at a party congress in Eisenach to remain CDU state leader, days before facing an AfD-led motion of no confidence in the state parliament.
- Aug 22
Volkswagen CEO Oliver Blume warns overhead costs exceed rivals by 30% as 50,000 job cuts loom
Volkswagen CEO Oliver Blume described the company's financial condition as critical in an internal interview, pointing to a 30% overhead cost disadvantage compared with competitors and uncertainty over four German production plants.
- Aug 20
Chemnitz light art festival targets urban vacancy with projections on vacant 100-meter hotel
The Light Our Vision festival in Chemnitz will project interactive art onto the empty Congress Hotel from 17 to 19 September 2026, aiming to spur debate on vacant urban properties.
- Aug 13
German court issues arrest warrant for AfD lawmaker Krah over unpaid Böhmermann legal costs
A district court in Chemnitz issued an arrest warrant for AfD Bundestag member Maximilian Krah after he failed to pay 296.26 euros in remaining legal costs from a lost lawsuit against comedian Jan Böhmermann and did not appear for a bailiff's appointment in mid-July.
- Jul 31
German unemployment tops 3 million in July, Bavaria hits near-20-year high
The Federal Employment Agency reported 3.007 million out of work in July, up 71,000 from June, as seasonal factors and a sluggish economy pushed the rate to 6.4 percent.
- Jul 25
Autonomous driving offers eastern Germany a path out of structural decline, but framework conditions lag behind US and China
As German automakers grapple with the shift to electric vehicles, Saxony and Saxony-Anhalt are betting that autonomous driving technology will create new industrial value, with pilot projects underway and a target of deploying driverless public transport by 2030.
- Jul 16
German far-right activist transferred to men's prison after extradition, despite legal gender change
Marla-Svenja Liebich, 55, was extradited from the Czech Republic on Wednesday and initially placed in a women's facility in Chemnitz before prison officials moved her to a men's prison the same day, citing safety of female inmates.
- Jul 10
Márquez pursues record-tying Sachsenring win as MotoGP championship fight tightens before summer break
MotoGP arrives at Sachsenring for the German Grand Prix, the 11th round and last before the summer break. Marc Márquez, fifth in the standings and 40 points adrift, seeks his 13th win at the circuit to reignite his title bid.
- Jul 7
Czech court clears extradition of German neo-Nazi Marla Svenja Liebich after she fought return to face prison sentence
The Prague High Court rejected all complaints from convicted right-wing extremist Marla Svenja Liebich, paving the way for her transfer from Czech custody to a German prison within days.
- Jun 15
Saxony's pools reject mandatory Bronze badge for entry, citing unreliable skill checks and drowning risks
Municipal pools in Leipzig, Dresden and Chemnitz will not tighten entry rules for unaccompanied minors, pushing back against a model adopted elsewhere in Germany that demands a Bronze swimming certificate.
- Jun 15
Theater der Welt 2026: Chemnitz hosts international theater festival with over 30 productions and a focus on indigenous voices
From June 18 to July 5, 2026, Chemnitz becomes the stage for Theater der Welt, one of Germany's most important international theater festivals, featuring over 30 productions, a focus on indigenous voices, and free family events.
- Jun 13
EVG warns Italo's German entry could cut long-distance rail to at least 16 cities
Italy's Italo plans to launch high-speed services on two German corridors from 2028. A railway union analysis says at least 16 cities could lose their ICE and IC stops as a result.
- Jun 9
Erfurt tops German happiness ranking as city size and social fabric shape life satisfaction
The Thuringian capital scores 7.74 out of 10 in the 2026 SKL Glücksatlas, while Rostock, Frankfurt and Wiesbaden bring up the rear in a survey of 40 major cities.
- Jun 7
Weak economy fuels illegal work in Saxony's trades, Dresden chamber warns
The Dresden Chamber of Crafts reports a surge in off-the-books work, especially in construction and barbershops, as a sluggish economy and high taxes push more activity into the shadows.
- Jun 2
Germany's poverty rate climbs to 16.1%, highest since records began in 2020
The share of Germans living in poverty rose to 16.1% in 2025, according to the Parity Welfare Association, with single parents and the elderly hardest hit and regional gaps widening.
- Jun 1
German neo-Nazi Marla Svenja Liebich to be extradited from Czech Republic after fleeing prison sentence
A court in Pilsen has ruled that convicted far-right extremist Marla Svenja Liebich, who fled Germany to avoid an 18-month prison sentence, must be returned to face justice.
