Bild: The truth about Bürgergeld / Die Wahrheit über das Bürgergeld
FAZ: Rehlinger accuses the Union of failing as a governing party / Rehlinger wirft der Union Versagen als Regierungspartei vor
Funke: Pension vote in the Bundestag: Is the chancellor’s majority at stake? / Renten-Abstimmung im Bundestag: Steht die Kanzlermehrheit?
Handelsblatt: The defiant superpower / Die widerspenstige Supermacht
RND: Pro and con „You describe it like a holiday camp“ – Two teenagers argue about military service / Pro und Contra „Du beschreibst das wie ein Ferienlager“ – Zwei Teenager streiten über Wehrdienst
SZ: Images of a reign of terror / Bilder einer Schreckensherrschaft
Tagesspiegel: Pension vote: Day of truth for the chancellor and the coalition / Rentenabstimmung: Tag der Wahrheit für Kanzler und Koalition
taz: Preliminary festival tally: 1 dead / Vorläufige Bilanz zum Fest: 1 Toter
Welt: Disastrous report card for the government on pension policy / Desaströses Zeugnis für die Regierung in der Rentenpolitik
Chancellor Friedrich Merz consults in Belgium on the use of frozen Russian assets: Merz will meet Belgian Prime Minister Bart de Wever and EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Friday evening to discuss using frozen Russian assets for the benefit of Ukraine. In September, the EU Commission proposed using the funds for a €140 billion loan. Belgium is cautious because the assets are held at Euroclear in Brussels, creating possible legal consequences and Russian countermeasures. Merz argues that all EU states should jointly share the risks. His planned trip to Norway was postponed. n-tv.de, zdfheute.de, n-tv.de
- Russia threatens massive countermeasures if the EU uses frozen Russian state assets to finance Ukraine. Moscow calls it an „illegal act“ and according to the Foreign Ministry is already preparing a response.
- The OSCE is preparing for a possible mission to monitor a ceasefire in Ukraine. Although there is no agreement yet, Chair Elina Valtonen stressed the organisation’s readiness. Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul emphasised at the OSCE meeting in Vienna that Ukraine must continue to be supported in future negotiations.
- Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin threatens further conquests and announces that Russia will take control of the Donbass and the so-called „New Russia“. „Either we liberate these territories militarily. Or the Ukrainian troops leave these territories and stop fighting there,“ he told Indian television.
- Putin and India’s Prime Minister Modi meet in New Delhi to discuss closer cooperation in trade, energy, and defence. Despite formal neutrality, India remains an important buyer of Russian oil and arms; the West sharply criticises this. The visit is Putin’s first trip to India since the beginning of the war.
- A confidential conference call with top European politicians reveals deep mistrust toward the US administration: „We must not leave Ukraine and Volodymyr alone with these guys.“
- Russia’s chief negotiator Kirill Dmitriyev mocks Chancellor Friedrich Merz on X as irrelevant to the Ukraine talks. The reason is reports from the confidential call about the chancellor’s mistrust toward US negotiators. Dmitriyev also accused Merz of „warmongering“ and „unrealistic policies.“
Ukraine rejects Russian victory claims: The military leadership contradicts Russian reports of gains near Pokrovsk. According to commander-in-chief Olexander Syrskyj, Ukrainian units still hold the northern part of the city, while attacks on Pokrovsk and Myrnohrad have been stopped.
- The Bundeswehr has strengthened its presence on NATO’s eastern flank and sent several Eurofighters to Poland. Around 150 soldiers will contribute to airspace security from Malbork until March.
ARD-Deutschlandtrend by Infratest-Dimap: CDU/CSU 27 percent, AfD 25 percent (-1), SPD 14 percent, Greens 12 percent, Left 10 percent, BSW 4 percent (+1), FDP 3 percent, Others 5 percent. tagesschau.de
Ipsos poll: CDU/CSU 23 percent (-1), AfD 26 percent, SPD 15 percent, Greens 13 percent (+1), Left 10 percent (-1), BSW 4 percent, FDP 4 percent, Others 5 percent. ipsos.com
Pension package in the Bundestag: Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Social Minister Bärbel Bas insist on securing a majority of their own; the law is to achieve a chancellor’s majority with coalition votes. The aim is to secure the pension level at 48 percent of average income until 2031. Within the CDU/CSU, the Young Group expresses opposition. Its 18 MPs reject the pension guarantee. CSU parliamentary group leader Alexander Hofmann nevertheless says he is convinced the government has a stable majority. The Left Party intends to abstain in the roll-call vote. tagesspiegel.de
Bundestag votes on the new military service law: It provides for compulsory registration and medical assessment of all men turning 18 from the 2008 cohort onward, while actual service remains voluntary. The reform also sets targets for increasing Bundeswehr personnel. If volunteers are insufficient, the Bundestag could introduce a needs-based conscription. The government cites the deteriorating security situation and the threat from Russia.
- Defence Committee Chair Thomas Röwekamp demands a decision on a possible reintroduction of compulsory military service by summer 2027. Röwekamp told RND he doubts that Germany can reach the NATO-pledged increase of 80,000 soldiers through volunteers alone.
Bundestag:
- Tax exemption for electric cars is extended. Vehicles registered until the end of 2035 remain exempt from vehicle tax for up to ten years. The regulation is intended to promote the switch to e-mobility and support the automotive industry.
- The adopted tax amendment law includes a higher commuter allowance, reduced VAT on restaurant food, and better tax conditions for volunteers. As states lose revenue, they demand compensation from the federal government; approval in the Bundesrat is uncertain.
- E-sports clubs are to be recognized as non-profit in the future. This would allow them access to tax benefits and funding once approved by the Bundesrat. The recognition provides legal certainty for around 1,700 clubs previously in a grey area.
- To prevent espionage and sabotage, the Bundestag has adopted stricter security vetting rules. Authorities may now also check the private environment of employees in security-relevant areas—exclusively through online and social media research. The measure aims to make attacks on critical infrastructure more difficult.
States decide on modernisation of public administration: The minister presidents agreed on a 200-point programme to simplify procedures and reduce costs. Examples include more straightforward applications for ID documents and simplified registration and deregistration of residences. Reporting obligations for administrations will also be reduced.
- The dispute over financing between the federal government and the states remains unresolved. Chancellor Friedrich Merz said after talks that the issue is highly complex and announced a special conference for next year. The states demand greater federal compensation for revenue losses caused by federal legislation.
- The new Media Council for public broadcasting—created under the reformed state treaty—will be based in Weimar. The minister presidents chose Weimar due to the media faculty at Bauhaus University. The six-member body will regularly assess how well public broadcasters fulfil their mandate.
Federal Constitutional Court urges rapid visa decision for Afghan ex-judge: Germany must quickly decide on visa applications for an Afghan former judge and his family, pending for more than two years. The court recognises particular urgency as the family waits in Pakistan. After the Taliban takeover, Germany suspended its admission programs; around 1,900 approved individuals are still waiting to depart. tagesschau.de, welt.de
Further reports:
- SPD calls for a statutory investment obligation from Culture Minister Wolfram Weimer.
- AfD chair Alice Weidel calls the domestic intelligence service “filthy Stasi spies.”
- Left Party leader Jan van Aken wants mulled wine at Christmas markets to become cheaper.
Thuringia: For AfD politician Björn Höcke, there is nothing to defend in Germany.
Bavaria: Constitutional Order awarded to prominent and civically engaged citizens.
Berlin: Police may secretly enter homes to install state trojans.
Mecklenburg-Vorpommern: Left politician Wenke Brüdgam tears down German flags; calls for her resignation follow.
Saxony: State government sues its own constitutional court after a right-wing extremist obtained a trainee lawyer position due to low requirements.
Thuringia: New attempt to rehabilitate the German National Theatre in Weimar.
Berlin: Expansion of firework-free zones on New Year’s Eve; Admiralbrücke also included.
Berlin: Police respond to AfD headquarters after an envelope with white powder is found; it turned out to be sugar.
EU weakens forest protection law: Negotiators from the European Parliament and member states have agreed to further weaken and delay the law. Large companies must prove one year later that products such as coffee, cocoa, or beef do not come from deforested areas; smaller firms only from mid-2027. This applies only to firms placing products on the EU market for the first time; others in the supply chain are exempt. The EU cites economic pressure and changed political majorities. Green politicians warn of growing forest destruction. Conservatives had called the original law overly bureaucratic. n-tv.de, zeit.de, n-tv.de
EU regulates labelling of alcohol-free wines and supports winegrowers: Wines with less than 0.05% alcohol may be labelled „alcohol-free“ with „0.0 percent“. Products with more than 0.5% may be labelled „reduced alcohol“. The package also includes financial aid and new rules on vineyard clearing to reduce overproduction. The agreement still needs formal approval.
EU states stop annual MOT requirement for older cars: Transport ministers reject the EU proposal for yearly vehicle inspections from age ten, citing costs for owners. Germany also opposed it, arguing technical defects rarely cause accidents.n-tv.de
EU Commission plans simplification of financial market rules: Complex national regulations are to be harmonised and modernised. The aim is to strengthen competitiveness, harmonise trading venues, and streamline supervisory procedures. Oversight of cross-border actors is to shift to ESMA in Paris.
Several countries announce a boycott of the Eurovision Song Contest: After the EBU allowed Israel to participate in the 2026 contest in Vienna, Spain, Ireland, the Netherlands and Slovenia announced they would boycott. They cite Israel’s military actions in Gaza. Germany’s broadcaster SWR welcomed the decision and confirmed participation. The contest will mark its 70th edition.
Bahn cuts management positions: According to Handelsblatt, the new Deutsche Bahn CEO Evelyn Palla plans to halve the number of top management positions at Deutsche Bahn from 43 to 22. The positions to be eliminated are primarily corporate liaison roles between the executive board and the first management level. The boards of the railway’s subsidiary companies are also to be reduced. tagesspiegel.de, zeit.de
Billionaires worldwide wealthier than ever: According to Swiss bank UBS, the total wealth of the world’s billionaires has risen to a record €13.6 trillion — an increase of 13 percent within one year. In Germany, the number of billionaires rose by one-third to 156; no other European country has as many. The surge in wealth is driven mainly by large inheritances and high-return investments in future technologies. UBS considered assets such as cash, securities, business holdings, real estate, and tangible assets in its analysis.
Further news:
- Dresden’s “Gläserne Manufaktur”: Volkswagen plans innovation campus.
- Number of job vacancies in Germany continues to shrink.
- Study: Majority of Germans want shorter working hours.
- Store closures in Germany are accelerating.
- Doctors’ practices earn an increasing share of income from privately insured patients.
- Apps on prescription: Insured persons redeemed 15 out of 91 DiGA in the model region.
- After accusations of bias: ARD Israel correspondent von der Tann receives Hanns-Joachim-Friedrichs Prize.
In Germany, nothing moves faster than a crowd that just heard the words “Bitte bilden Sie eine Schlange.” Miraculously, people who moments before wandered aimlessly suddenly align with military precision. It’s not order—it’s an instinct. Evolutionary, even. Researchers may one day confirm that Germans can sense a queue forming within a five-kilometre radius. Until then: fall in line, or be silently judged.