The former leader of Germany’s oldest party has torn to shreds not so much the Social Democrats’ guiding star, but the way in which the political party has viewed that star: “The real problem is not the firewall, but the major misunderstanding about what a welfare state is”

Why the proposal to lower the threshold from 5 to 3 per cent is causing a rift in the consensus on a rule that has remained unchanged for seventy years

At the June congress of Alternative für Deutschland (AfD), a proposal was put to the vote aimed at replacing Christian holidays with German neo-pagan celebrations, starting with the winter and summer solstices. These would be proper public holidays, with shops, schools and offices closed and celebrations taking place across the country.

Under a new German law, statutory health insurance funds will no longer be able to reimburse homeopathy and anthroposophic medicine. From 2027, the ban will then be extended permanently to include any form of supplementary cover or supplementary insurance policy that provides for the funding of such treatments

Following a manhunt lasting over 20 hours, the jihadist Abdul Ballout was killed in the Spandau district. The man was accused of the terrorist attack on the capital’s Christopher Street Day Pride event, in which one woman was killed and 29 people were injured. German Chancellor Merz described it as “an attack on our society”.

A humpback whale crucified amongst priests, altar boys and altars. The kitsch appeal of German theatre. But there are those who defend it: “It’s spirituality”