The Local Germany

I smuggled refugee over border, Left Party MP admits

Mon, 12 Sep 2016 13:48:16 +0200

A German MP has admitted that he smuggled a young man from a war-torn African country into Germany. One police union said he should be charged.

Free peeing on Autobahn must be legal right: Left Party

Fri, 22 Jul 2016 16:44:16 +0200

The Left Party, Germany’s official opposition, has discovered the key to winning votes in next year’s federal election - making motorway toilets free for all.

Left leader calls for German referendum on EU deals

Tue, 28 Jun 2016 16:43:48 +0200

The left-wing leader of the official opposition party in Germany said that it’s time the German people also have a say on what goes on in Brussels.

What does the Left Party want for Europe?

Wed, 14 May 2014 19:29:00 +0200

The far-left party Die Linke is now the third biggest group in the German parliament, but what do their politicians want for Europe? The Local takes a look at the party’s manifesto for the EU Parliament elections on May 25th.

German MP visits Assange in embassy

Mon, 03 Sep 2012 10:17:00 +0200

German far-left MP Sevim Dagdelen on Sunday visited Julian Asange, who has been holed up at Ecuador's embassy in London since June, and afterwards expressed her solidarity with the Wikileaks founder.

German taxes spent on training Saudi guards

Mon, 23 Jul 2012 11:04:00 +0200

The federal police force has spent nearly a million euros of German taxpayer's money on training border guards in Saudi Arabia, the government has admitted.

Left leader calls for 40k a month income cap

Sat, 16 Jun 2012 18:01:00 +0200

The new leader of Germany's socialist Left party has called for a 100 percent tax on any income above €40,000 a month, because beyond that point, "there's no additional life enjoyment anyway."

Socialist Left party finally elects leadership

Sun, 03 Jun 2012 12:06:00 +0200

After an extremely contentious day in which leading German Left party politicians said the socialist party risks destroying itself, the rank and file finally chose a new leadership on Saturday.

Leftists suggest legal cannabis clubs

Wed, 25 Jan 2012 08:00:00 +0100

Germany’s socialist Left party is calling an expert hearing on “legalizing cannabis through the introduction of cannabis clubs” in the German parliament on Wednesday. The idea has met widespread rejection.

Spying on leftist MPs condemned

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 12:02:00 +0100

Politicians from across Germany’s main political parties have condemned the domestic intelligence agency, or Verfassungsschutz, for spying on parliamentarians from the socialist Left party.

Former Left head Lafontaine admits relationship

Sun, 13 Nov 2011 12:11:00 +0100

The former head of the socialist Left Party Oskar Lafontaine has confirmed that he is in a relationship with Sahra Wagenknecht, a prominent representative of the left-wing of the party.

Left deputy leader wants to expel Wall apologists

Sat, 20 Aug 2011 17:42:00 +0200

Dietmar Bartsch, deputy leader of the Left party's parliamentary faction, has rounded on MPs in a regional parliament who refused to observe a minute's silence for those who died trying to escape over the Berlin Wall.

CSU flags Left party ban, sparking war of words

Sun, 07 Aug 2011 17:31:00 +0200

A bitter dispute has erupted between the Christian Social Union, sister party to the ruling Christian Democratic Union, and the Left party, after CSU General Secretary Alexander Dobrindt called for an investigation into banning the leftists.

Stasi checks for public servants extended

Fri, 06 Aug 2010 17:04:00 +0200

Candidates for government jobs, including elected office, now face Stasi background checks until 2019 under a government plan revealed on Friday.

Left party boss probed over travel expenses

Thu, 22 Jul 2010 09:55:00 +0200

The Berlin state prosecutor has added to the socialist Left party’s woes with the announcement late Wednesday that it is investigating party chairman Klaus Ernst for fraudulently using his travel allowance.

Leftists name third presidential candidate

Tue, 08 Jun 2010 17:26:00 +0200

The socialist Left Party has chosen one of its own MPs, former television journalist Lukrezia Jochimsen, to challenge Christian Wulff and Joachim Gauck for Germany’s presidency, media reported Tuesday.

German among wounded in Israeli sea attack

Wed, 02 Jun 2010 17:35:00 +0200

A German man is among the dozens injured earlier this week when Israeli commandos raided a Free Gaza movement flotilla in international waters, officials announced Wednesday.

Leftist accuses official of blocking citizenship

Fri, 19 Mar 2010 18:00:00 +0100

Weeks after a member of the socialist Left party accused Lower Saxony's Interior Ministry of blocking her citizenship application for her political leanings, Jannine Menger-Hamilton told The Local on Friday she would now receive a German passport.

Coalition loses majority support from public

Wed, 13 Jan 2010 09:34:00 +0100

Germany’s centre-right government coalition has lost the majority of public support less than six months after being elected, a poll published on Wednesday revealed.

Full-time employment positions declining

Wed, 16 Dec 2009 10:00:00 +0100

The number of Germans able to find full-time jobs subject to social insurance contributions from employers is on the decline, daily Frankfurter Rundschau reported on Wednesday.