The Local Germany

Germany gives green light to €1.1 trillion coronavirus aid package

Fri, 27 Mar 2020 12:35:50 +0100

The upper house of Germany's parliament approved a coronavirus rescue package Friday, green-lighting almost €1.1 trillion to shield Europe's largest economy from the impact of the pandemic.

Fare dodging could cost more in 2015

Fri, 28 Nov 2014 14:10:00 +0100

States are pushing the government to increase fines for people using public transport without a ticket from next year.

'Tolerate the party but stamp on fascist bullies'

Tue, 03 Dec 2013 11:42:00 +0100

The Constitutional Court is again considering whether to ban the neo-Nazi NPD. Is Germany's democracy strong enough to handle a handful of unpleasant nutters spouting hatred? It should be, but needs a hand, says Hannah Cleaver.

States try again to ban neo-Nazi party

Mon, 02 Dec 2013 14:10:00 +0100

Germany's states are making a renewed push to ban the country's best-known neo-Nazi party, arguing it is basically the same as Hitler's party, and is damaging democracy.

Government disowns new info-selling law

Mon, 09 Jul 2012 11:15:00 +0200

The German government has disowned a law passed by its own parties in parliament in less than a minute which enables local authorities to sell people’s personal information even without their permission.

Germany rejects carbon dioxide storage plans

Fri, 23 Sep 2011 16:07:00 +0200

Germany’s upper house of parliament, the Bundesrat, has knocked down a proposal to start storing the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide underground in a bid to reduce emissions.

Bundesrat blocks welfare changes

Fri, 17 Dec 2010 16:02:00 +0100

Chancellor Angela Merkel's centre-right coalition suffered a legislative setback on Friday, when the upper house of parliament blocked proposed changes to the country’s Hartz IV welfare benefits. The defeat could delay plans to implement the reforms by January 1.

Attacks on police rise dramatically

Sat, 08 May 2010 13:47:00 +0200

The number of attacks on German police officers rose drastically last year, according to figures released Saturday by the federal police authority in Potsdam.

Bundesrat backs Merkel's tax-relief package

Fri, 18 Dec 2009 15:03:00 +0100

German Chancellor Angela Merkel scored a key political victory as a disputed tax relief package passed the upper house of parliament Friday despite serious reservations from the country's states worried about their tattered public finances.

Bundesrat approves Lisbon reform treaty

Fri, 18 Sep 2009 13:40:00 +0200

The EU's Lisbon reform treaty cleared a major hurdle on Friday as Germany's upper house approved laws paving the way to its ratification following months of political wrangling and heated debate.

Parliament sets new record for laws passed

Fri, 03 Jul 2009 17:34:00 +0200

The latest legislation period has been the most productive in Germany’s post-war history, German media reported on Friday – the last day of parliament before summer recess. More than 580 new laws have been passed since the parliament’s formation October 18, 2005. The Local singles out some of those passed in its final week.

Berlin pushes revamped anti-terror law

Wed, 03 Dec 2008 16:12:00 +0100

The German government on Wednesday called for an arbitration committee to review a last-minute compromise for a disputed law that gives new powers the Federal Criminal Police (BKA) in the fight against terrorism.

Chimney sweeps free to fire up competition

Fri, 19 Sep 2008 16:18:00 +0200

Some 20,000 German chimney sweeps will have to get used to more competition after the Bundesrat, the upper house of parliament that represents Germany's 16 federal states, voted unanimously to pass a parliamentary resolution relaxing regulations on Friday.