- 2d ago
Sven Schulze and Ulrich Siegmund Clash on Migration and Economy in Saxony-Anhalt Debate
Saxony-Anhalt Minister-President Sven Schulze and AfD challenger Ulrich Siegmund faced off in a live debate on Wednesday, clashing over deportations, labour shortages, and state administration ahead of Sunday's election.
- 6d ago
Thuringia Landtag rejects Björn Höcke's no-confidence motion against Mario Voigt
AfD faction leader Björn Höcke secured 33 votes in a secret ballot in Erfurt, falling 12 short of the 45 required to oust CDU Minister-President Mario Voigt.
- 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 17
Thuringia coalition holds as BSW state branch resists federal demand to oust Voigt
Thuringia's three-party government reaffirmed its stability after 13 of 15 BSW state lawmakers rejected a federal executive demand to break with CDU Premier Mario Voigt, planning a special party congress to address the dispute.
- Aug 16
Wagenknecht dares Höcke to live debate after his offer to elect her as Thuringian Minister President
BSW founder Sahra Wagenknecht has publicly challenged Thuringian AfD leader Björn Höcke to a live debate, days after Höcke offered AfD votes to elect her as Minister President of Thuringia.
- Aug 13
BSW federal board demands Thuringian minister president Voigt resign over revoked doctorate
The BSW federal board has demanded the immediate resignation of Thuringian Minister President Mario Voigt (CDU) over his revoked doctorate, but the party's own state branch is resisting the call while the AfD's Björn Höcke pushes for an independent replacement.
- Aug 11
SPD working group demands special party conference to replace co-chairs Bas and Klingbeil
An SPD working group has called for an extraordinary party conference in autumn 2026 to replace co-chairs Bärbel Bas and Lars Klingbeil, citing the party's 12% polling low and what it calls a failed dual-role leadership structure.
- Aug 11
Rescue exercise in Thuringia's Sandbergtunnel exposes 127-minute delay and fax-based emergency alerts
A large-scale rescue exercise in Thuringia's Sandbergtunnel on 8 August exposed severe failures in emergency communication, with alerting delays of over two hours and control centers still relying on fax machines.
- Aug 9
"Jesus Christ Superstar" premiere sells out Erfurt's Domstufen-Festspiele with 44,000 tickets
The rock opera by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice opened at the Domstufen-Festspiele to a standing ovation, with nearly all 44,000 tickets for 21 performances already sold and only waitlists remaining.
- Aug 4
Thuringia's Left leader urges CDU to drop ban on cooperation, floats coalition talks
Katja Maurer, co-leader of Thuringia's Left party, said she would openly campaign on a possible coalition with the CDU and called the party's 2018 incompatibility resolution 'insincere'.
- Jul 31
Seven German states rebel against coalition plan to abolish 'Rente mit 63' pension
Germany's black-red coalition faces mounting resistance from eight states over its plan to abolish the deduction-free pension after 45 contribution years, with SPD and CDU politicians alike demanding exemptions, transition rules and hardship provisions.
- Jul 29
Heatwave pushes forest fire danger to highest level across eastern Germany, aerial patrols ordered in Bavaria
The German Weather Service warns of high to very high forest fire risk across Bavaria, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, and Thuringia, with temperatures forecast to reach 38°C on Thursday and aerial observation flights deployed in Bavaria.
- Jul 26
Thuringia’s Voigt maps out second deregulation law, cabinet to weigh draft in September
Minister President Mario Voigt announced a second legislative package to streamline rules in Thuringia, with the cabinet set to examine a draft in September and a bill to reach the Landtag before the end of 2026.
- Jul 22
SPD youth demand debate on backing AfD-backed judges in Thuringia's top court
The SPD's youth wing is pressing for an internal party discussion, as the far-right AfD's blocking minority forces Thuringia's coalition to consider its candidate for the state's highest court.
- Jul 20
One in three restaurants in major German cities deletes Google Maps reviews, nationwide sample shows
A nationwide sample by the German Press Agency (dpa) shows that up to one in three hospitality businesses in major German cities have had Google Maps reviews removed after complaints, spotlighting a new transparency notice Google began displaying in late April.
- Jul 15
AfD leaders sing East German anthem at rally as comedian sparks criminal probe with Merz, Merkel remarks
AfD co-leader Tino Chrupalla and top candidate Ulrich Siegmund joined hundreds in singing 'Auferstanden aus Ruinen' at a campaign event in Dessau-Roßlau, while cabaret artist Uwe Steimle faces a criminal investigation over comments about Friedrich Merz and Angela Merkel.
- Jul 15
Thuringia's CDU rejects property tax hike after €40m shortfall, calling low rate a family relief package
The state's Christian Democrats are holding the line on a 2024 cut that trimmed the real-estate transfer tax to 5%, even as the finance ministry tallies a roughly €40 million annual revenue loss.
- Jul 10
Spahn proposes stripping Thuringia AfD leader Höcke of voting rights instead of party ban
CDU parliamentary group leader Jens Spahn suggested a targeted legal procedure to revoke the active and passive voting rights of Thuringia's AfD chief Björn Höcke, calling it a more practical step than a full party ban.
- Jul 9
Arbitration imposes social plan for Zalando Erfurt site, no transfer company
After months of deadlock, an arbitration board has imposed a social plan for the 2,100 employees of Zalando's Erfurt logistics center, clearing the way for the site's closure at the end of September.
- Jul 5
AfD leader Weidel criticises party's family model, says she lives differently in same-sex partnership
Alice Weidel, co-leader of Germany's far-right AfD, has distanced herself from her party's Saxony-Anhalt election programme, which calls the traditional mother-father-child unit the best basis for child development. Weidel lives with a woman and raises two children with her.
