The reform of the BND and BFV will, in limited circumstances, allow for the sabotage of enemy IT systems and infrastructure. Berlin is responding to Russia’s hybrid warfare, but is blurring the line between the intelligence services and the police

There is a direct correlation between immigration and the rise of the far right, but it would be simplistic to regard the link between immigration and xenophobic radicalisation as some sort of law of political physics. Interview with Oliviero Angeli of the University of Dresden

A mysterious statue and an interesting book exploring history and ideas. One wonders whether the AfD, between one remigration programme and the next, have realised they have an African patron saint.

The CDU has achieved its worst-ever result in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and Berlin. Alternative für Deutschland, on the other hand, continues to grow: in the state, it has almost doubled its share of the vote compared with the last election (from 16.7 per cent to 38 per cent), and the same is true in the city-state, where it reached 15 per cent.

The Christian Democrats have hit an all-time low in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, with the AfD making further gains. Yet the Chancellor has ruled out resigning.

Alternative für Deutschland is in the lead, according to exit polls (SPD at 35.5 per cent). Collapse for the CDU. Merz: “A disastrous result”