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Friday, Aug 21, 2026
Das Deutsche Blatt

Friedrich Merz faces growing pressure as approval ratings weaken and AfD support remains strong

Lower public approval for Chancellor Friedrich Merz is increasing political pressure on the CDU-led government. At the same time, maintaining the party's political distance from the AfD remains a strategic challenge, particularly in eastern Germany.
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Domestic pressure over migration and security is intensifying

Debates over deportations, toleration permits and expanded intelligence powers point to a stronger political focus on control and national security. At the same time, these issu...

Energy security is returning as a central industrial risk

Low gas-storage levels and higher energy prices are increasing the vulnerability of energy-intensive businesses. The latest developments underscore that reliable and affordable ...

Germany's auto industry is increasingly caught between geopolitics and trade policy

Volkswagen and other German manufacturers are having to align investment decisions more closely with US tariffs, local production and geopolitical risks. The shift puts addition...

Growth and employment are becoming increasingly disconnected

Modest economic growth alongside declining employment points to a deeper structural weakness. The key question for the government is whether investment and an eventual industria...

Low gas-storage levels and rising prices intensify pressure on German industry

European gas prices have risen amid geopolitical tensions and renewed uncertainty over supplies. At the same time, German gas-storage levels remain unusually low for the time of...

German economy grows slightly as employment declines

Germany's gross domestic product increased by zero point two percent in the second quarter of two thousand twenty-six, while employment declined. The divergence is intensifying ...

Mercedes-Benz scales back autonomous-driving ambitions amid high costs and limited demand

Mercedes-Benz is reducing parts of its ambitious high-level automated-driving programs. The decision highlights mounting cost pressures across the automotive industry and the di...

Volkswagen ties further US investment to relief from American tariffs

Volkswagen CEO Oliver Blume is linking additional investment in the United States to the future trade-policy environment. The strategy illustrates the growing pressure on German...

Cabinet expands intelligence agencies' powers for active cyber defense

The government plans to give German intelligence agencies broader powers to respond proactively to foreign cyberattacks. The reform is intended to strengthen protection for crit...

Government scales back planned cuts to renewable-energy subsidies

Economy Minister Katherina Reiche is reportedly taking a less aggressive approach to planned reforms of subsidies for solar and wind power. Transitional arrangements are intende...

Five-hundred-billion-euro infrastructure fund is reaching the economy only slowly

Despite the historic special fund for infrastructure and climate investment, architects, engineers and construction companies are reporting a lack of new orders. Delays in plann...

AI is adding new pressure to Germany's courts and public administration

Courts and government agencies are increasingly dealing with large volumes of automatically generated applications, appeals and other legal submissions. The trend is forcing the...
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Domestic pressure over migration and security is intensifying
Energy security is returning as a central industrial risk
Germany's auto industry is increasingly caught between geopolitics and trade policy
Growth and employment are becoming increasingly disconnected
Low gas-storage levels and rising prices intensify pressure on German industry
German economy grows slightly as employment declines
Mercedes-Benz scales back autonomous-driving ambitions amid high costs and limited demand
Volkswagen ties further US investment to relief from American tariffs
Cabinet expands intelligence agencies' powers for active cyber defense
Government scales back planned cuts to renewable-energy subsidies
Five-hundred-billion-euro infrastructure fund is reaching the economy only slowly
AI is adding new pressure to Germany's courts and public administration
Friedrich Merz faces growing pressure as approval ratings weaken and AfD support remains strong
Deutsche Bahn faces renewed political pressure over persistent delays
Coalition tensions rise as conservatives demand tougher deportations and fewer toleration permits
New developments in the Cum-Ex scandal put former Commerzbank managers on trial
Plans to ease rules for tenants installing air conditioning gain momentum
Lawmakers launch new push for an opt-out system for organ donation
German Cabinet moves to tighten rules on alcohol consumption by teenagers
German Auto Industry Calls for Technology-Neutral Rules on the Shift Away From Combustion Engines
German Science Council Calls for Closer Links Between Universities and Research Institutes
Munich Security Conference Prepares for Diplomacy on Ukraine and Indo-Pacific Tensions
Germany Warns More Grid Flexibility Is Needed to Maintain Power System Stability
Deutsche Bahn Sets Out Major Autumn Overhaul of Germany’s Busiest Rail Routes
Rheinmetall Expands German Artillery Production Capacity
German Parliament Debates Debt Brake Reform and New Infrastructure Investment Funds
Siemens Energy Reports Billion-Euro Profit After Wind Power Restructuring
Germany Expands Border Controls to Combat Smuggling and Irregular Migration
Bundesbank Warns of Weak German Growth and Muted Export Outlook
Volkswagen and IG Metall Begin Difficult Wage Talks Amid Factory Closure Debate
Germany Calls for More Technology Investment to Strengthen Industrial Competitiveness
German Defense Leaders Call for Permanent Increase in Military Spending Beyond Special Fund
German Industry Puts Domestic Investment on Hold as Labor Costs and Social Contributions Rise
BMW Plans Global Job Cuts as Weak Chinese Sales Pressure Margins
Low Rhine Water Threatens German Industry as Drought Disrupts Transport and Power Supplies
Rheinmetall Begins Delivering Artillery Shells From New German Factory
German Economy Sends Mixed Signals as Business Closures Reach Near-Record Levels
German Automotive Employment Falls Below 700,000 as Industry Faces Prolonged Downturn
Eastern Germany Is Becoming a Critical Test of National Political Stability
Defense Spending Is Reshaping Germany’s Industrial Base
Germany’s Energy Policy Is Shifting Toward Industrial Competitiveness
Germany Balances Industrial Decline Risks With High-Tech Investment
Ebola Outbreak in Democratic Republic of Congo Raises Concern Among European Health Authorities
A Major Earthquake on Indonesia’s Flores Island Kills at Least 38 People
Germany Sends Emergency Aid and Rescue Teams to Earthquake Zone in Colombia
Chancellor Merz Warns of Growing Threats to Democracy at 65th Anniversary of Berlin Wall Construction
BSW Calls for Non-Partisan Minister-President in Saxony-Anhalt and Challenges Chancellor Merz
Germany’s Political Center Faces a Difficult Test Ahead of Saxony-Anhalt State Election
Germany’s Industrial Energy Strategy Faces Pressure From High Costs and Global Competition
Eurozone Growth Accelerates to 0.5 Percent, Providing Some Support for Germany’s Export Economy
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