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The Alternative for Germany (AfD) is managing a significant internal scandal centered on allegations of nepotism in Saxony-Anhalt and Thuringia. Reports detail party officials hiring family members of other AfD politicians, with co-leader Tino Chrupalla named for employing a colleague's wife. Party leadership has denied the accusations while also moving to expel politician Kevin Dorow, creating pressure ahead of state elections. In national politics, Chancellor Friedrich Merz was re-elected as CDU chairman and called for mandatory real-name use on the internet. The SPD proposed a ban on social media for children under 14, a measure rejected by Die Linke.
Locally, Berlin contended with severe winter weather that halted airport departures, while a court banned private road salt use. In Frankfurt, authorities investigated election fraud with more forged signatures linked to Peter Feldmann, and the city proceeded with the Riederwaldtunnel construction. Hamburg saw activists planning sit-in blockades to protect a forest and a woman losing her job at the shipping authority for refusing to use gender-inclusive language. Munich hosted exhibitions on the climate crisis and artificial intelligence.
Internationally, newly released court documents related to Jeffrey Epstein named several German figures and institutions, including former Chancellor Angela Merkel, Chancellor Olaf Scholz's former secretary, and the AfD party. Deutsche Bank was also implicated for its financial dealings with Epstein, leading opposition politicians to call for a government investigation. In a separate legal matter, the AfD's parliamentary group failed in a bid to be allocated a specific meeting hall named after an anti-Nazi politician.
Reporting from Istanbul, ARD correspondents provided information on attacks on Iran. In other news, a company's emergency legal motion against Mainova Webhouse over a data center failed, and Eintracht Frankfurt's new coach Albert Riera debuted in a 1-1 draw, a match marred by an injury to striker Rasmus Højlund.
10 topics | 207 sources
The Alternative for Germany (AfD) party is dealing with a major internal scandal involving allegations of nepotism and party infighting. The party is also facing multiple separate controversies and setbacks, including a failed legal bid by its parliamentary group to be allocated a specific meeting hall. These developments represent a significant internal crisis for the far-right party.
Several local stories are unfolding in Frankfurt, Germany. Authorities have opened an investigation into suspected fraud related to a local election, and 29 more forged signatures have been discovered on a list connected to Peter Feldmann. Separately, the city is cutting down the last trees to make way for the construction of the Riederwaldtunnel, a major infrastructure project. Other local news includes a fire at the German Football Association (DFB) campus that was extinguished, a dispute over a bicycle street on Grüneburgweg, and a tight race expected in a university presidential election.
Berlin is dealing with severe winter weather, including icy rain that halted all departures at Berlin Brandenburg Airport. A court in Berlin has also stopped the private use of road salt, which has sparked controversy as the city struggles with icy conditions.
The SPD, Germany's Social Democratic Party, has proposed a ban on social media use for children under the age of 14. The party argues this is necessary to protect young people from dangers online. Die Linke, the Left Party, has rejected the SPD's proposal. The debate comes as some SPD figures discuss the party's future direction.
Chancellor Friedrich Merz, the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), has been re-elected as the party's chairman. At the party conference, he gave a speech and also called for a requirement to use real names on the internet. Separately, there was a news report that his wife, Charlotte Merz, was injured in a bicycle accident.
13 topics | 152 sources
Feb 14
German news roundup: Data center dispute, police chase, and other local storiesThis is a collection of unrelated local news stories from Germany. A company called Global Switch failed in an emergency legal motion against Mainova Webhouse in a dispute over a data center. Separately, in Moosburg, there was a car theft that led to a police chase. Other headlines include a truck hitting four wild boars near Eberbach, Charlotte Merz being hospitalized after a fall during a bike tour with a chancellor, and a cannabis plantation with 1,400 plants being destroyed in Laubach.
Feb 6
Eintracht Frankfurt draws with Union Berlin in Albert Riera's debut as coachEintracht Frankfurt played to a 1-1 draw against 1. FC Union Berlin. This match was the debut for Frankfurt's new coach, Albert Riera. A key moment in the game was an injury to striker Rasmus Højlund, which disrupted the team's plans. Riera is now tasked with trying to lead the team out of a recent period of poor results.