Germany megathread

[Middle-aged Europe]

Open season on center-left politicians, part 8 (and 9):

Berlin economy minister (and former mayor) Franziska Giffey was physically assaulted and had to be treated in a hospital.

Ah, so was a as-of-now unnamed 47-year old Green politician down in Dresden, although the altercation was so "minor" that a hospitalization wasn't necessary in this case.

[President Johnson]

Open season on center-left politicians, part 8 (and 9):

Berlin economy minister (and former mayor) Franziska Giffey was physically assaulted and had to be treated in a hospital.

Ah, so was a as-of-now unnamed 47-year old Green politician down in Dresden, although the altercation was so "minor" that a hospitalization wasn't necessary in this case.

The perpetrator was a 74 year old sicko who has been detained to a psychatric clinic. Thankfully she's fine again.

[President Johnson]

Major loss for AfD in court today.

https://twitter.com/dwnews/status/1789975878450942111

[Clarko95 📚💰📈]

3.) Minimum Wage, Again
It looks like the SPD and Greens are gearing up to formally endorse a 15 Euro minimum wage by 2026 as part of the 2025 election campaign.

Last year some in the SPD started talking about a 14 Euro minimum wage and several individual politicians have already endorsed 15 Euros. The Greens' federal parliamentary group formally endorsed a 15 Euro minimum wage, as have Die Linke and Ver.di (the trade union). The figures come from the new EU directive about minimum wages, which says that minimum wages should be set at a level of 60% of a country's median income, which works out to just over 14 Euros an hour in 2024, just under 15 in 2025, and just above 15 in 2026.

Forsa released a survey conducted over the past month, asking the general population about their opinion on a 15 Euro minimum wage. Overall, 57% are in support of another Bundestag law to raise the minimum wage to 15 Euros an hour, 38% would prefer to continue the current schedule as determined by the minimum wage commission, and 5% were unsure.

Majorities of BSW (67%), SPD (64%), Greens (62%), and AfD (56%) voters are in favor of raising the minimum wage with a law, while only 42% of CDU voters and 35% of FDP voters support it (53% and 62% supported the current schedule).

The SPD and Greens view the minimum wage not only as socially just, but also a vote winner for election time.

...aaaaaaand Scholz endorses a 15 Euro minimum wage. He wants a phase-in, first raising the minimum wage to 14 Euros an hour to 15, similar to the phase-in during 2022.

It's only a matter of time before the SPD and Greens adopt a 15 Euro minimum wage as an official policy proposal and campaign plank for 2025.

[President Johnson]

Major loss for AfD in court today.

https://twitter.com/dwnews/status/1789975878450942111

Aaaand ... another defeat. Höcke fined 13k Euros for using a Nazi slogan. He claimed that he didn't know about that.

https://twitter.com/dwnews/status/1790433385720033511

[Middle-aged Europe]

He claimed that he didn't know about that.

HE'S A FRIGGIN HISTORY TEACHER.

[President Johnson]

More bad news for AfD: The Bundestag has revoked immunity of two AfD members:

- Hannes Gnauck's immunity was rescinded due to a disciplinary investigation during his time in the Bundeswehr, where he is accused of inciting against asylum seekers and foreigners. The Military Counterintelligence Service (MAD) classified him as a "suspected case of right-wing extremism" in 2020. Gnauck, who is also the national chairman of the "Young Alternative", had a uniform and service ban imposed on him by the Bundeswehr. The disciplinary proceedings had been suspended since he entered the Bundestag in 2021. Gnauck suspects a connection to the upcoming EU election and believes the timing of the immunity lifting is questionable.

- The General Prosecutor's Office in Munich has initiated investigations into AfD Bundestag member Petr Bystron for suspected bribery and money laundering, conducting searches at multiple locations including Bystron's office in Berlin, properties in Mallorca, and in various districts in Bavaria. Bystron's immunity was lifted by the Bundestag prior to the searches. There are allegations that Bystron received money as part of a Russian influence operation, with hints of a cash exchange in a car. Bystron denies the accusations, while the AfD leadership is hoping for swift resolution to the situation. Additionally, there are allegations against another AfD candidate, Maximilian Krah, and his longtime employee Jian G., who was arrested for alleged espionage for China. The investigations are ongoing, with no concrete evidence presented yet for the claims against Bystron.