Germany in February 2026: the most important developments in society
Germany in February 2026 saw large protests about Iran. Thousands gathered in front of the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin on 7 February, where exiled Iranians urged the German government to reconsider its policy toward Iran. A demonstration in Munich during the Munich Security Conference drew far more people than expected; Munich authorities had anticipated up to 100,000, and police later acknowledged they had significantly underestimated the turnout. After the attacks on Iran on 28 February, more than 1,500 people protested against the Iranian government in Berlin, and exiled Iranians held a rally in Frankfurt calling for a change of government.
Migration and asylum policy formed a second theme. On 27 February the Bundestag voted to tighten asylum policy. The government encouraged Syrians to return home and considered deportations to Afghanistan through an arrangement with the Taliban, while North Rhine-Westphalia announced plans to protect Yazidis from deportation. Economists praised a work plan for asylum seekers, and new rules aim to give them faster access to the labor market. The AfD's use of the term "remigration" and calls for a party ban stayed in the news, and on 26 February a court temporarily halted the classification of the AfD as a suspected extremist case.
The Berlin International Film Festival became a focal point of controversy over Gaza. Author Arundhati Roy withdrew, citing the jury's refusal to comment on the war, and filmmakers published an open letter criticizing the festival for what they called silence. The festival rejected claims of pro-Israel censorship. By 25 February the leadership was in crisis, with director Tricia Tuttle reportedly facing possible dismissal and an emergency supervisory board meeting called; hundreds of filmmakers then voiced support for her.
Other matters included an SPD proposal to ban social media for children under 14, which several parties opposed and Chancellor Friedrich Merz said he was open to, and labor disputes. Tens of thousands of transport workers struck nationwide on 2 February, a Lufthansa strike grounded hundreds of flights, and a two-day walkout halted public transport on 27 February while the rail operator and a union reached a wage agreement.
by WorldBrief & Maksim Micheliov | AI-generated summary
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