Merz coalition turns one as care insurance signals insolvency and the Mittelstand walks away
Germany's Medical Service of the Statutory Health Insurance Funds warned on May 19 that long-term care insurance is heading for insolvency without federal loans, after spending hit EUR 70 billion in 2025 for six million recipients -- double the figure of a decade ago. On the Merz coalition's first anniversary, Mittelstand leaders publicly declared trust in the Chancellor broken, police data showed politically motivated crimes against politicians up 40% to 5,140 in 2025 (AfD targeted 1,852 times, CDU 1,171), and the planned EUR 100-400 income-tax cut from 2027 ran into a fight over EUR 20-30 billion in annual revenue losses.
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de92German statutory care insurance faces insolvency without federal loans, Medical Service warns
Germany's Medical Service of the Statutory Health Insurance Funds warned on May 19 that the country's long-term care insurance faces insolvency without federal loans, after spending exceeded €70 billion in 2025 for nearly 6 million recipients -- double the figure a decade ago. GKV-Spitzenverband chairman Oliver Blatt demanded that federal states cover Heim investment costs, which would cut average resident co-pays by €500 per month from the current €3,245. A DAK study projects that 46.2% of nursing-home residents could be on social welfare by 2035.
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German statutory care insurance faces insolvency without federal loans, Medical Service warns
Germany's Medical Service of the Statutory Health Insurance Funds warned on May 19 that the country's long-term care insurance faces insolvency without federal loans, after spending exceeded €70 billion in 2025 for nearly 6 million recipients -- double the figure a decade ago. GKV-Spitzenverband chairman Oliver Blatt demanded that federal states cover Heim investment costs, which would cut average resident co-pays by €500 per month from the current €3,245. A DAK study projects that 46.2% of nursing-home residents could be on social welfare by 2035.
Germany's Medical Service of the Statutory Health Insurance Funds warned on May 19 that the country's long-term care insurance faces insolvency without federal loans, after spending exceeded €70 billion in 2025 for nearly 6 million recipients -- double the figure a decade ago. GKV-Spitzenverband chairman Oliver Blatt demanded that federal states cover Heim investment costs, which would cut average resident co-pays by €500 per month from the current €3,245. A DAK study projects that 46.2% of nursing-home residents could be on social welfare by 2035.
de85German Mittelstand entrepreneurs lose trust in Chancellor Friedrich Merz
Leaders of German Mittelstand companies say trust in Chancellor Friedrich Merz has been broken, one year after his coalition with the SPD took power on May 6, 2025. The unusually harsh judgment raises concerns about political and social stability in Germany. The Mittelstand, often described as the backbone of German capitalism, is a key barometer of business sentiment.
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German Mittelstand entrepreneurs lose trust in Chancellor Friedrich Merz
Leaders of German Mittelstand companies say trust in Chancellor Friedrich Merz has been broken, one year after his coalition with the SPD took power on May 6, 2025. The unusually harsh judgment raises concerns about political and social stability in Germany. The Mittelstand, often described as the backbone of German capitalism, is a key barometer of business sentiment.
Leaders of German Mittelstand companies say trust in Chancellor Friedrich Merz has been broken, one year after his coalition with the SPD took power on May 6, 2025. The unusually harsh judgment raises concerns about political and social stability in Germany. The Mittelstand, often described as the backbone of German capitalism, is a key barometer of business sentiment.
de82Politically motivated crimes against German politicians surge 40% in 2025
German police recorded 5,140 politically motivated crimes against party representatives and members in 2025, a 40% increase from 3,690 in 2024, according to a government response to a parliamentary inquiry by the AfD. The AfD was the most targeted party with 1,852 attacks, followed by the CDU with 1,171. The rise is partly attributed to the heated climate during the early 2025 election campaign.
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Politically motivated crimes against German politicians surge 40% in 2025
German police recorded 5,140 politically motivated crimes against party representatives and members in 2025, a 40% increase from 3,690 in 2024, according to a government response to a parliamentary inquiry by the AfD. The AfD was the most targeted party with 1,852 attacks, followed by the CDU with 1,171. The rise is partly attributed to the heated climate during the early 2025 election campaign.
German police recorded 5,140 politically motivated crimes against party representatives and members in 2025, a 40% increase from 3,690 in 2024, according to a government response to a parliamentary inquiry by the AfD. The AfD was the most targeted party with 1,852 attacks, followed by the CDU with 1,171. The rise is partly attributed to the heated climate during the early 2025 election campaign.
de80German coalition plans income tax cuts for low and middle earners from 2027
Germany's black-red coalition plans to cut income tax for people earning between 2,500 and 3,000 euros gross per month, effective January 1, 2027. The relief would amount to 100-200 euros per year for low earners and up to 400 euros for middle earners, according to DIW economist Stefan Bach. Financing the reform, which could cause annual revenue losses of 20-30 billion euros, remains disputed among coalition partners.
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German coalition plans income tax cuts for low and middle earners from 2027
Germany's black-red coalition plans to cut income tax for people earning between 2,500 and 3,000 euros gross per month, effective January 1, 2027. The relief would amount to 100-200 euros per year for low earners and up to 400 euros for middle earners, according to DIW economist Stefan Bach. Financing the reform, which could cause annual revenue losses of 20-30 billion euros, remains disputed among coalition partners.
Germany's black-red coalition plans to cut income tax for people earning between 2,500 and 3,000 euros gross per month, effective January 1, 2027. The relief would amount to 100-200 euros per year for low earners and up to 400 euros for middle earners, according to DIW economist Stefan Bach. Financing the reform, which could cause annual revenue losses of 20-30 billion euros, remains disputed among coalition partners.
de39AI drives surge in child sexual abuse material, German watchdog warns
The German youth protection center jugendschutz.net reported over 15,000 violations of youth protection laws online in 2025, with the majority being child sexual abuse material. The report highlights new risks from AI, including chatbots that simulate relationships and AI influencers that harm body image. The center calls for stricter platform regulation and better age verification systems.
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AI drives surge in child sexual abuse material, German watchdog warns
The German youth protection center jugendschutz.net reported over 15,000 violations of youth protection laws online in 2025, with the majority being child sexual abuse material. The report highlights new risks from AI, including chatbots that simulate relationships and AI influencers that harm body image. The center calls for stricter platform regulation and better age verification systems.
The German youth protection center jugendschutz.net reported over 15,000 violations of youth protection laws online in 2025, with the majority being child sexual abuse material. The report highlights new risks from AI, including chatbots that simulate relationships and AI influencers that harm body image. The center calls for stricter platform regulation and better age verification systems.
de38ADHD tops care-dependent children diagnoses in Germany as total care recipients exceed 6 million
Background: German Health Minister Nina Warken (CDU) has warned of a €7.5 billion deficit in long-term care insurance by 2027, attributing the rise to expanded eligibility since 2017, including children with ADHD. Today: A new report from the Medical Service (MD) confirms ADHD as the leading diagnosis among care-dependent children (24% of cases in 2025, up 3 points from 2024) and reveals that total care recipients in Germany have surpassed 6 million for the first time, nearly double the 2015 figure. The report intensifies the debate over raising classification thresholds to contain costs, as proposed by health insurers and hinted at by Warken.
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ADHD tops care-dependent children diagnoses in Germany as total care recipients exceed 6 million
Background: German Health Minister Nina Warken (CDU) has warned of a €7.5 billion deficit in long-term care insurance by 2027, attributing the rise to expanded eligibility since 2017, including children with ADHD. Today: A new report from the Medical Service (MD) confirms ADHD as the leading diagnosis among care-dependent children (24% of cases in 2025, up 3 points from 2024) and reveals that total care recipients in Germany have surpassed 6 million for the first time, nearly double the 2015 figure. The report intensifies the debate over raising classification thresholds to contain costs, as proposed by health insurers and hinted at by Warken.
Background: German Health Minister Nina Warken (CDU) has warned of a €7.5 billion deficit in long-term care insurance by 2027, attributing the rise to expanded eligibility since 2017, including children with ADHD. Today: A new report from the Medical Service (MD) confirms ADHD as the leading diagnosis among care-dependent children (24% of cases in 2025, up 3 points from 2024) and reveals that total care recipients in Germany have surpassed 6 million for the first time, nearly double the 2015 figure. The report intensifies the debate over raising classification thresholds to contain costs, as proposed by health insurers and hinted at by Warken.
de35Three missing after house collapse in Görlitz, Germany
A residential building in the eastern German city of Görlitz collapsed on May 18, 2026, leaving three people missing. Police suspect a gas explosion. Emergency services are searching the rubble with gas detectors and proceeding cautiously to prevent further collapses. The building housed rented apartments and holiday homes; two holidaymakers initially listed as missing were later confirmed safe.
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Three missing after house collapse in Görlitz, Germany
A residential building in the eastern German city of Görlitz collapsed on May 18, 2026, leaving three people missing. Police suspect a gas explosion. Emergency services are searching the rubble with gas detectors and proceeding cautiously to prevent further collapses. The building housed rented apartments and holiday homes; two holidaymakers initially listed as missing were later confirmed safe.
A residential building in the eastern German city of Görlitz collapsed on May 18, 2026, leaving three people missing. Police suspect a gas explosion. Emergency services are searching the rubble with gas detectors and proceeding cautiously to prevent further collapses. The building housed rented apartments and holiday homes; two holidaymakers initially listed as missing were later confirmed safe.
de33German government claims migration crisis resolved, experts disagree
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz stated that 'large parts of the migration problem' have been resolved, a claim disputed by legal experts and opposition figures. While asylum numbers have declined, structural deficits, legal concerns, and disagreements over deportation targets and integration goals persist. The debate highlights ongoing political divisions over migration policy effectiveness.
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German government claims migration crisis resolved, experts disagree
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz stated that 'large parts of the migration problem' have been resolved, a claim disputed by legal experts and opposition figures. While asylum numbers have declined, structural deficits, legal concerns, and disagreements over deportation targets and integration goals persist. The debate highlights ongoing political divisions over migration policy effectiveness.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz stated that 'large parts of the migration problem' have been resolved, a claim disputed by legal experts and opposition figures. While asylum numbers have declined, structural deficits, legal concerns, and disagreements over deportation targets and integration goals persist. The debate highlights ongoing political divisions over migration policy effectiveness.