https://feeds.thelocal.com/ Read the latest news and views from Germany in English en-us news@thelocal.com (TheLocal) webmaster@thelocal.com (TheLocal) TheLocal RSS Feed As an energy crisis is met with a temporary tax break and an economic downturn is met with an employee bonus scheme. Columnist Brian Melican asks, 'Has the German government gone mad?' https://www.thelocal.de/20260423/opinion-germanys-fuel-crisis-response-shows-the-government-has-lost-its-mind Thu, 23 Apr 2026 15:10:51 +0200 opinion-germanys-fuel-crisis-response-shows-the-government-has-lost-its-mind Halfway through a bruising decade, the relentless focus on what is going wrong in Germany is making things worse for everyone except extremists. A more positive attitude is urgently needed, argues Brian Melican, and starting from the top. https://www.thelocal.de/20260206/opinion-merz-really-needs-to-talk-germany-up-or-hell-hand-the-country-to-extremists Fri, 06 Feb 2026 11:26:14 +0100 opinion-merz-really-needs-to-talk-germany-up-or-hell-hand-the-country-to-extremists Student participation, called 'Mitarbeit', makes up a large portion of students' grades in German schools. But the way it's assessed can be poison in the classroom, particularly for foreign pupils, writes Tom Pugh. https://www.thelocal.de/20250702/opinion-german-school-grading-is-unfair-on-foreign-students-and-its-maddening Wed, 02 Jul 2025 14:30:24 +0200 opinion-german-school-grading-is-unfair-on-foreign-students-and-its-maddening European leaders sending their troops to Greenland has - writes political columnist John Lichfield - called Donald Trump's bluff when it comes to military conflict. Instead the continent faces the prospect of a long and brutal trade war. https://www.thelocal.de/20260120/opinion-this-is-a-1938-moment-for-europe-but-the-war-will-be-a-trade-war Tue, 20 Jan 2026 11:46:19 +0100 opinion-this-is-a-1938-moment-for-europe-but-the-war-will-be-a-trade-war As an eventful 2025 draws to a close and Germany takes stock, our columnist Brian Melican casts his gaze ahead to the new year: what can we expect in 2026? More of the same uncertainty and crisis – or worse? https://www.thelocal.de/20251229/opinion-the-coming-year-will-bring-even-more-chaos-to-those-living-in-germany Mon, 29 Dec 2025 12:06:50 +0100 opinion-the-coming-year-will-bring-even-more-chaos-to-those-living-in-germany Some foreigners, who have integrated into German life, see themselves as apart from the debate on immigration and its consequences. But everyone who was not born in the country should remember they are immigrants too, writes Brian Melican. https://www.thelocal.de/20251113/opinion-yes-germanys-slide-toward-hard-line-immigration-policies-will-impact-you Thu, 13 Nov 2025 13:16:40 +0100 opinion-yes-germanys-slide-toward-hard-line-immigration-policies-will-impact-you German chancellor Friedrich Merz has come under fire for doubling down on what many see as racist remarks on diversity in cities. Rather than addressing underlying social issues, Merz risks sowing division, says Rachel Loxton. https://www.thelocal.de/20251021/opinion-merzs-divisive-comments-are-a-distraction-from-real-problems-in-germany Tue, 21 Oct 2025 19:07:44 +0200 opinion-merzs-divisive-comments-are-a-distraction-from-real-problems-in-germany As the coalition government wrangles over re-introducing conscription, Brian Melican examines the related debate, what the likeliest outcomes are, and what the looming draft would mean for young Germans and dual-nationals. https://www.thelocal.de/20251020/what-will-germanys-new-conscription-law-mean-for-young-germans-and-dual-nationals Mon, 20 Oct 2025 15:43:02 +0200 what-will-germanys-new-conscription-law-mean-for-young-germans-and-dual-nationals After Germany acted efficiently to scrap its fast-track naturalisation route less than 18 months after its introduction, Brian Melican argues this abrupt policy shift is a depressing warning to exactly the kind of people the country needs. https://www.thelocal.de/20251010/opinion-germany-has-sent-the-wrong-signal-to-very-immigrants-it-needs Fri, 10 Oct 2025 15:53:18 +0200 opinion-germany-has-sent-the-wrong-signal-to-very-immigrants-it-needs Rental costs across Germany continue to rise at alarming rates. Since rent control laws are only enforced when tenants invoke them, Paul Krantz argues that doing so should be seen as a civic duty to help keep rents down. https://www.thelocal.de/20250110/opinion-why-challenging-your-high-rent-in-germany-is-a-civic-duty-to-other-tenants Fri, 10 Jan 2025 13:58:45 +0100 opinion-why-challenging-your-high-rent-in-germany-is-a-civic-duty-to-other-tenants Germany's national railway operator got a new boss who has promised to bring a 'new start' to the troubled company. Brian Melican examines that challenges she faces, suggesting that the real issues are systemic. https://www.thelocal.de/20250925/opinion-deutsche-bahns-problems-are-too-big-for-a-new-boss-to-fix Thu, 25 Sep 2025 13:56:03 +0200 opinion-deutsche-bahns-problems-are-too-big-for-a-new-boss-to-fix Germany makes it hard for newcomers, you're either all German or you’re an Ausländer, argue Chris Reiter and Will Wilkes, the authors of a new book 'Broken Republik'. If only it could enhance the feeling of belonging and inclusion for all. https://www.thelocal.de/20250530/opinion-if-germany-is-to-thrive-it-must-help-foreigners-feel-they-belong-here Fri, 30 May 2025 13:58:41 +0200 opinion-if-germany-is-to-thrive-it-must-help-foreigners-feel-they-belong-here Little over three months into his term as Chancellor, Friedrich Merz and his coalition have brought significant changes to Germany. At the 100-day mark, Brian Melican examines where Merz’ government has lived up to expectations – and where it hasn’t. https://www.thelocal.de/20250811/opinion-three-months-in-merz-germany-has-felt-a-whole-lot-longer Mon, 11 Aug 2025 17:11:07 +0200 opinion-three-months-in-merz-germany-has-felt-a-whole-lot-longer With public transport connections, parks and wide pavements, German cities are generally designed with pedestrians in mind. It's something the US and other countries could learn from, writes journalist Rachel Loxton. https://www.thelocal.de/20250803/opinion-german-cities-are-designed-for-walking-and-it-benefits-everyone Sun, 03 Aug 2025 11:08:31 +0200 opinion-german-cities-are-designed-for-walking-and-it-benefits-everyone As government spending on pensions soars again and economists discuss options for financing ever-growing entitlements, Brian Melican examines the German system – and the prospects for everyone currently paying into it. https://www.thelocal.de/20250801/opinion-why-germanys-pensions-problems-will-soon-be-your-problem Fri, 01 Aug 2025 17:43:17 +0200 opinion-why-germanys-pensions-problems-will-soon-be-your-problem Last week, an election of judges to the Constitutional Court was abruptly postponed, creating a fresh political crisis. Brian Melican unpacks the controversy, and explains why the politicisation of Germany's highest court is a serious threat. https://www.thelocal.de/20250718/opinion-politicising-germanys-constitutional-court-is-a-dangerous-game Fri, 18 Jul 2025 16:07:11 +0200 opinion-politicising-germanys-constitutional-court-is-a-dangerous-game Germany's federal government is set to extend the rent brake, or 'Mietpreisbremse', until 2029. But columnist Brian Melican argues that the rent control may actually be doing more harm than good. https://www.thelocal.de/20250606/opinion-its-high-time-germany-scrapped-the-rent-brake Fri, 06 Jun 2025 17:26:39 +0200 opinion-its-high-time-germany-scrapped-the-rent-brake For English-speaking parents in Germany, successfully raising bilingual children can require a surprising amount of forward planning – and vast reserves of patience, explains father of two Tom Pugh. https://www.thelocal.de/20250514/how-i-made-sure-my-german-born-children-were-bilingual-in-english Wed, 14 May 2025 17:00:35 +0200 how-i-made-sure-my-german-born-children-were-bilingual-in-english After a slew of racist and dehumanising statements by members, Germany's domestic intelligence agency has finally classified the AfD as a 'right wing extremist group'. Now it's time to actually ban the party, writes Lya Paulsen. https://www.thelocal.de/20250505/opinion-the-truth-is-out-about-germanys-far-right-afd-now-ban-the-party Mon, 05 May 2025 12:43:49 +0200 opinion-the-truth-is-out-about-germanys-far-right-afd-now-ban-the-party With coalition negotiations between the CDU-CSU and SPD reaching a crucial point of no return, Brian Melican looks at what the likely outcomes will be and what they will mean for people living in Germany. One thing about these talks is already clear: failure is not an option. https://www.thelocal.de/20250329/from-citizenship-to-renting-what-to-expect-when-germanys-coalition-talks-conclude Sat, 29 Mar 2025 12:13:20 +0100 from-citizenship-to-renting-what-to-expect-when-germanys-coalition-talks-conclude