Bild: How Merz now wants to save Germany / So will Merz jetzt Deutschland retten
FAZ: Woidke ends coalition with BSW in Brandenburg / Woidke kündigt Koalition mit BSW in Brandenburg auf
Funke: Nursing homes, supermarkets and mobile phone masts have power again / Pflegeheime, Supermärkte und Mobilfunkmasten haben wieder Strom
Handelsblatt: The diesel dilemma / Das Diesel-Dilemma
RND: Trump’s big Maduro show: An arrest as a media spectacle / Trumps große Maduro-Show: Eine Festnahme als Medienspektakel
SZ: USA invoke strength, violence, and power / USA beschwören Stärke, Gewalt und Macht
Tagesspiegel: Ukraine to receive binding security guarantees / Ukraine soll verbindliche Sicherheitsgarantien bekommen
taz: Alliance without Wagenknecht / Bündnis ohne Wagenknecht
Welt: SPD–BSW coalition in Brandenburg has collapsed / Koalition aus SPD und BSW in Brandenburg ist zerbrochen
Chancellor Friedrich Merz signals military backing for a ceasefire in Ukraine: Following a meeting of Ukraine’s allies, Merz said that the „type and scope of a German contribution must and will be decided by the federal government and the Bundestag once the relevant conditions are clarified.“ He emphasized that Germany is not fundamentally ruling out any form of participation. CSU leader Markus Söder also does not rule out sending German soldiers to Ukraine after a ceasefire in the war with Russia, though he rejects deploying conscripts. zdfheute.de, sueddeutsche.de, rnd.de, spiegel.de, n-tv.de
- US special envoy Steve Witkoff says plans for Ukraine security guarantees are „largely finalized“:
Speaking in Paris, Witkoff stressed the need for lasting security after the war, even if territorial issues remain unresolved. Reconstruction would also be crucial, he added, which is why companies such as US asset manager BlackRock are involved. Jared Kushner called the Paris meeting an „important milestone.“ - US to coordinate monitoring of a potential ceasefire in Ukraine: Washington says it will work closely with European partners and provide logistical and intelligence support for an international force.
- EU signals military and civilian support for future peace in Ukraine: European Council President António Costa, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen emphasized European unity after the Paris summit and announced assistance guarantees that could include NATO-like elements.
- France and the UK pledge military support after a ceasefire: According to French President Emmanuel Macron and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, both countries are planning to establish bases and participate in a multinational force.
- Poland’s Prime Minister Donald Tusk sees transatlantic unity secured: After the Paris meeting, Tusk said Europe and the US must remain united in maintaining pressure on Russia. Ukraine, he added, is showing willingness to discuss compromises.
- US special envoy Steve Witkoff says plans for Ukraine security guarantees are „largely finalized“:
Brandenburg
CDU signals readiness for talks after coalition collapse: CDU state and parliamentary leader Jens Redmann said in Potsdam that Brandenburg now needs stability and reliability. The CDU is prepared to discuss how it could contribute, though no formal invitation to exploratory talks has yet been issued.
- Minister-President Dietmar Woidke ends coalition with BSW: Woidke terminated the coalition due to a lack of governing capability. Three MPs left the BSW parliamentary group, causing the government to lose its majority. BSW accused Woidke of „betraying the voters.“
- SPD parliamentary group takes in breakaway BSW MP Robert Crumbach: Crumbach said BSW has fundamentally changed since its founding.
- BSW leader Amira Mohamed Ali criticizes Woidke’s decision: She called it irresponsible and accused him of paving the way for an SPD/CDU government that voters had previously rejected.
CSU leader Markus Söder calls for a policy shift: At the opening of the CSU winter retreat in Kloster Seeon, Söder warned that Germany must become more militarily and economically independent in order to stop being merely a “bystander” in global politics. He also called for a comprehensive reform of the welfare state, speaking of a “general overhaul,” particularly of pension and healthcare policy. In light of demographic change, Söder said it was clear that people would have to work longer in the future. CSU parliamentary group leader Alexander Hoffmann described 2026 as the “most challenging year” for the Berlin coalition of the CDU/CSU and SPD. spiegel.de, n-tv.de, handelsblatt.com, rnd.de
- CSU parliamentary group leader Alexander Hoffmann reaffirmed his call to allow accompanied driving from the age of 16. He argued that a driver’s license ensures mobility and social participation for young people in rural areas.
- The CSU wants to curb lawsuits filed by environmental groups. zdfheute.de
- Alexander Hoffmann also reiterated his demand for faster deportations of Syrian migrants with subsidiary protection status. He pointed to returnee figures and stressed that offenders without the right to remain must also leave the country in order to keep the asylum system functional.
- DIW president Marcel Fratzscher criticized the CSU’s migration plans as economically damaging and politically short-sighted. He warned that a deportation push could cost Germany hundreds of thousands of workers and trigger a new recession. The vast majority of refugees who have come to Germany since 2015, he said, are now an integral part of the labor market and society.
FDP calls for more courage to reform at Three Kings meeting: FDP leader Christian Dürr urged greater willingness to take risks and embrace change in Germany. After leaving the Bundestag, the Liberals want to reposition themselves as a reform-oriented force. Dürr proposed that all laws passed since 2000 should expire at the end of a future legislative term, giving the next parliament a free hand for a political reset. Secretary General Nicole Büttner criticized excessive regulation and bureaucracy, which she said paralyze both the economy and citizens. sueddeutsche.de, n-tv.de, tagesspiegel.de, spiegel.de
SPD general secretary Tim Klüssendorf calls for a stronger focus on the cost of living for lower-income groups: The everyday reality of people with low and middle incomes must play a greater role in his party’s political agenda, Klüssendorf said on ZDF. He noted that these groups have “borne the bulk of the burden in this society” in recent years. He also questioned whether the SPD has sufficiently addressed the issue of affordability, saying the priority must be to limit pressures from high prices, rents, and social contributions. zdfheute.de
Greens call for an immediate economic program: Parliamentary group leader Katharina Dröge accused Chancellor Friedrich Merz of doing too little for businesses in his first year in office and of neglecting the Mittelstand. She said funds from the special asset pool had been misused for election giveaways. Dröge called for 2026 to become the “Year of the Mittelstand,” with investments focused more strongly on modernization and infrastructure. stern.de
Federal and state governments aim to simplify regional development funding. A reform of the joint task “Improving Regional Economic Structures” seeks to target support for structurally weak regions more effectively. The Economy Ministry announced that access to funding will be made significantly easier, particularly for small and medium-sized enterprises. By the end of 2028, requirements for creating new jobs are also set to be substantially relaxed. boerse.de
Culture Minister Wolfram Weimer calls for EU action against sexualized AI images on X: Weimer accused platform owner Elon Musk of allowing the “industrialization of sexual harassment” through the AI service Grok. He said the highly realistic depictions of minors were particularly unacceptable and urged the European Commission to rigorously enforce the Digital Services Act to combat such content. Grok has come under global criticism for depicting women and girls in sexualized ways. n-tv.de, wiwo.de
Further reports:
- Politically motivated violent crimes rose sharply in 2025. zeit.de
- SPD plans to present a draft reform to tax extreme inheritances and wealth more fairly. welt.de
- SPD vice chair Armand Zorn counters the CDU/CSU: longer working lives do not benefit the economy. n-tv.de
- New defense system in Annaburg: drone incidents over missile-defense site. tagesschau.de
- After an appeal over rising social spending, the government rebuffs the association of cities and refers responsibility to the states. tagesspiegel.de
Federal Prosecutor General takes over investigation after attack on Berlin power grid: Germany’s federal prosecutors in Karlsruhe are investigating on suspicion of forming a terrorist organization, anti-constitutional sabotage, arson, and disruption of public services. Since Sunday, politicians and security authorities have classified the act as a politically motivated attack, which left-wing extremists have claimed responsibility for. The attack on several power cables caused a large-scale blackout starting Saturday, temporarily affecting around 45,000 households and 2,200 businesses. According to grid operator Stromnetz Berlin, all connections are expected to be restored by Thursday afternoon. zeit.de, zdfheute.de
- Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt sees the attack on Berlin’s power lines as a clear signal of a growing threat from left-wing extremist groups. The Interior Ministry plans to inform parliamentary representatives on the Interior Affairs Committee by phone on Thursday about the status of the investigation. tagesschau.de
- Berlin attack on power supply: „Multiple systems damaged simultaneously.“ heise.de
Other news:
- Rhineland-Palatinate: 16 party lists submitted for the state election. n-tv.de
- Berlin: Arrested 43-year-old allegedly set fire to all three cold-weather buses. morgenpost.de
- Brandenburg: Death threat against antisemitism commissioner Andreas Büttner. tagesschau.de
- North Rhine–Westphalia: Investigators seize data storage devices at a Sparkasse branch in Gelsenkirchen. faz.net
- Hamburg: De-icing salt allowed again on sidewalks; heaviest snowfall in 15 years. spiegel.de
European states warn the US against annexing Greenland: In a joint statement, Germany, France, Denmark, the United Kingdom, Italy, Poland, and Spain reaffirmed that Greenland and Denmark alone have the right to decide their own affairs. The Kingdom of Denmark — including Greenland — is part of NATO, the statement added. The move was prompted by repeated remarks in recent days by US President Donald Trump, who said the United States needs Greenland for reasons of national security and defense. zdfheute.de, welt.de, orf.at
- „Use of the US military always an option“: US President Donald Trump is considering „a range of options“ to take control of Greenland. tagesspiegel.de
EU seeks to financially accommodate farmers in budget reform: European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has proposed allowing member states to access EU agricultural funds earlier and on a larger scale. Around €45 billion is to be mobilized from 2028 onward. In a letter to European Parliament President Roberta Metsola and Cypriot EU Council President Nikos Christodoulides, von der Leyen also announced that the reform plans would be revised. Europe-wide farmer protests are also directed against the Mercosur agreement, which is close to being signed and which farmers criticize over concerns about cheap imports. zeit.de
Only 3.6 percent of insured persons actively use the electronic patient record: Despite its widespread rollout, use of Germany’s electronic patient record (ePA) remains low. According to an RND survey of major statutory health insurance funds, only 3.6 percent of insured persons actively log into their records. There, they can upload medical documents or manage access rights for doctors. Since the nationwide introduction began in July 2025, the usage rate has increased by just one percentage point. Overall, 70 of the roughly 75 million people covered by statutory health insurance now have an automatically created ePA. zeit.de
Inflation falls to 1.8 percent in December: The decline in inflation was stronger than expected and signals further easing of consumer prices. According to the Federal Statistical Office, prices for goods and services rose by just 1.8 percent in December compared with the same month a year earlier, down from 2.3 percent in November. While energy prices fell again and food prices rose only moderately, services such as car insurance, package holidays, and hairdresser visits were the main drivers of inflation. On average, inflation stood at 2.2 percent in 2025; the Kiel Institute for the World Economy (IfW Kiel) expects it to fall to 1.8 percent in 2026. tagesschau.de, tagesspiegel.de
Other business news:
- Around 20 percent of newly registered cars last year were fully electric. deutschlandfunk.de
- Researchers propose psychological programs instead of driving bans after traffic offenses. faz.net
- „Cooperative where possible“: Wage talks between Deutsche Bahn and the GDL union ahead of their start. rnd.de
- Tagesthemen anchor Helge Fuhst is leaving ARD. rnd.de
- Bayer sues BioNTech and Pfizer over alleged patent infringement. zeit.de
Germany has rolled out a nationwide electronic patient record — and almost no one is using it. While tens of millions now have one, only a tiny fraction actively log in. It turns out Germans trust digital health tools… as long as they can safely ignore them. Paper folders may be gone, but the cultural instinct to say “I’ll look into it later” is alive and well.