{"id":1814027,"date":"2026-03-07T08:32:01","date_gmt":"2026-03-07T05:32:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1814027"},"modified":"2026-03-07T08:32:01","modified_gmt":"2026-03-07T05:32:01","slug":"how-a-jewish-familys-moped-brand-became-a-far-right-symbol","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1814027","title":{"rendered":"How a Jewish family&#8217;s moped brand became a far-right symbol"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/static.dw.com\/image\/76257904_6.jpg&#8221;]<\/p>\n<article class=\"s1sfzv1a sk6xmai\">\n<div class=\"content-area sa7l9jt s9mg977\">\n<section data-tracking-name=\"sharing-icons-inline\" class=\"c75t7t0 hh5424a in-line closed\">\n<div class=\"copy-button-wrapper closed\"><span class=\"svdcmki\">https:\/\/p.dw.com\/p\/59y5p<\/span><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<figure class=\"s4bcs45\"><source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.dw.com\/image\/76257904_800.webp 50w, https:\/\/static.dw.com\/image\/76257904_801.webp 129w, https:\/\/static.dw.com\/image\/76257904_802.webp 352w, https:\/\/static.dw.com\/image\/76257904_803.webp 575w\" media=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 575px)\" height=\"100\" width=\"100\" \/><figcaption class=\"c1oedowi lofg86o m4xla6a s16w0xvi rcjjkz7 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\">The election in Baden-W\u00fcrttemberg takes place on Sunday<small class=\"copyright c19ed66t ihwmx5 idu7i8u lxmvniw icns9en rcjjkz7 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\">Image: Arnulf Hettrich\/imageBROKER\/picture alliance<\/small><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<section data-tracking-name=\"section-live-blog-rich-text-overview\" id=\"live-blog-rich-text-overview\" class=\"c1800ln sq3xutt atfzu66\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/germany-news-state-election-set-to-test-merzs-popularity\/live-76257633#post-live-blog-rich-text-overview\" class=\"q1knotlb b14agbwd quick-item\"><span class=\"h1du6kc5 l1ozsu87 p1s74fjj s16w0xvi sngcpkw b1fzgn0z\">Skip next section What you need to know<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"c2fyhwl ctymiyf content-block i1if36d6 i1ytahzz\">\n<h2 class=\"cp7bjxx h1du6kc5 lt5vbch pohyj9x s16w0xvi m1u0isv1 b1fzgn0z\">What you need to know<\/h2>\n<div data-tracking-skip=\"true\" data-tracking-name=\"rich-text\" class=\"c17j8gzx rc0m0op r1ebneao s198y7xq rich-text l1evdo4u blt0baw s16w0xvi rcjjkz7 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\">\n<ul>\n<li>The first of five state elections this year is being seen as a barometer of Chancellor Friedrich Merz&#8217;s popularity<\/li>\n<li>A survey shows that many people in Germany are plagued by financial worries<\/li>\n<li>AfD&#8217;s Weidel backs new state youth wing despite negative intelligence classification<\/li>\n<li>More vacationers return to Germany after Middle East stranding<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><em>These live updates have closed. Thank you for reading. <\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>Below, you can review a roundup of news and human interest stories from <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/germany\/t-17871182\">Germany<\/a>\u00a0from\u00a0Saturday, March 7, 2026:\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<div class=\"s1ogwy7c ev9ivjh\">\n<section data-tracking-name=\"section-liveblog-post\" id=\"liveblog-post-76262839\" class=\"liveblog-post sh8w7rk atfzu66\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/germany-news-state-election-set-to-test-merzs-popularity\/live-76257633#post-liveblog-post-76262839\" class=\"q1knotlb b14agbwd quick-item\"><span class=\"h1du6kc5 l1ozsu87 p1s74fjj s16w0xvi sngcpkw b1fzgn0z\">Skip next section WATCH: How a Jewish family&#8217;s motorbike became a far-right symbol<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"l3vczb5\"><span class=\"time-area s1i8qhb9 icns9en lofg86o m1u0isv1 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\"><span class=\"publication icns9en lofg86o m1u0isv1 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\"><time aria-hidden=\"true\">03\/07\/2026<\/time><span class=\"s28j2rd\">March 7, 2026<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"pmcvy6l h1du6kc5 l1evdo4u p1y8x1v s16w0xvi sngcpkw b1fzgn0z\">WATCH: How a Jewish family&#8217;s motorbike became a far-right symbol<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<div data-tracking-skip=\"true\" data-tracking-name=\"rich-text\" class=\"post-rich-text c17j8gzx rc0m0op r1ebneao s198y7xq rich-text l1evdo4u blt0baw s16w0xvi rcjjkz7 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\">\n<div class=\"vjs-wrapper embed big\">\n<h2 aria-label=\"Embedded video \u2014 How a Jewish family's moped brand became a far-right symbol\" class=\"headline\">How a Jewish family&#8217;s moped brand became a far-right symbol<\/h2>\n<p><video id=\"video-76261714\" controls playsinline preload=\"none\" poster=\"image\/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAEAAAABCAQAAAC1HAwCAAAAC0lEQVR42mNkYAAAAAYAAjCB0C8AAAAASUVORK5CYII=\" data-id=\"76261714\" data-posterurl=\"https:\/\/static.dw.com\/image\/76261866_605.webp\" data-duration=\"11:28\"><source src=\"https:\/\/hlsvod.dw.com\/i\/vps\/webvideos\/ENG\/2026\/NEWS\/NEWSENG260307_NewsFocus_Simson_01SMW_,AVC_480x270,AVC_512x288,AVC_640x360,AVC_960x540,AVC_1280x720,AVC_1920x1080,.mp4.csmil\/master.m3u8\" type=\"application\/x-mpegURL\" \/><\/video><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"bp605kw start\"><span class=\"svdcmki\">https:\/\/p.dw.com\/p\/59zRn<\/span><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section data-tracking-name=\"section-liveblog-post\" id=\"liveblog-post-76262773\" class=\"liveblog-post sh8w7rk atfzu66\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/germany-news-state-election-set-to-test-merzs-popularity\/live-76257633#post-liveblog-post-76262773\" class=\"q1knotlb b14agbwd quick-item\"><span class=\"h1du6kc5 l1ozsu87 p1s74fjj s16w0xvi sngcpkw b1fzgn0z\">Skip next section Germany failed to carry out more than 60% of deportations in 2025<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"l3vczb5\"><span class=\"time-area s1i8qhb9 icns9en lofg86o m1u0isv1 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\"><span class=\"publication icns9en lofg86o m1u0isv1 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\"><time aria-hidden=\"true\">03\/07\/2026<\/time><span class=\"s28j2rd\">March 7, 2026<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"pmcvy6l h1du6kc5 l1evdo4u p1y8x1v s16w0xvi sngcpkw b1fzgn0z\">Germany failed to carry out more than 60% of deportations in 2025<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<div data-tracking-skip=\"true\" data-tracking-name=\"rich-text\" class=\"post-rich-text c17j8gzx rc0m0op r1ebneao s198y7xq rich-text l1evdo4u blt0baw s16w0xvi rcjjkz7 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\">\n<p>German authorities failed to carry out some 60% of all planned <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/germany-resumes-deportations-to-syria-for-first-time-since-2011\/a-75287833\">deportations<\/a> in 2025 according to figures cited by the German dpa news agency.<\/p>\n<p>Police speaking with dpa\u00a0confirmed that 22,787 deportations were carried out in 2025, as opposed to 32,855 that were not.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Of all cases involving individuals not ultimately deported, some 11,184 had <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/how-does-germany-deport-people\/a-75683771\">deportation requests<\/a> cancelled, while bureaucratic hitches between state and federal authorities accounted for the cancellation of 21,341 deportations.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>State interior ministers have sounded the alarm, saying the numbers have to change.<\/p>\n<p>Among the suggestions being put forth now are the possible tracking of cellphones owned by individuals <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/germany-migration-syria-deportations-repatriation\/a-74610937\">slated for deportation<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/hesse\/t-18967716\">Hesse<\/a>&#8216;s Interior Minister Roman Poseck told the German newspaper\u00a0<em>Die Welt<\/em>, that this\u00a0&#8220;is not about putting everyone who is required to leave the country under general suspicion.&#8221; He added\u00a0that such measures would only be employed if authorities were unable to locate an individual slated for deportation. \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/p>\n<p><a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/saxony\/t-18967998\">Saxony<\/a>&#8216;s Interior Minister Armin Schuster seconded Poseck&#8217;s plan, telling <em>Die Welt<\/em> that it would be even better if scheduled deportees were unable to go into hiding in the first place.<\/p>\n<p>To that end, Schuster has called on the EU to allow member states use\u00a0detention centers to\u00a0detain people pending deportation.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"bp605kw start\"><span class=\"svdcmki\">https:\/\/p.dw.com\/p\/59zQj<\/span><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section data-tracking-name=\"section-liveblog-post\" id=\"liveblog-post-76262446\" class=\"liveblog-post sh8w7rk atfzu66\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/germany-news-state-election-set-to-test-merzs-popularity\/live-76257633#post-liveblog-post-76262446\" class=\"q1knotlb b14agbwd quick-item\"><span class=\"h1du6kc5 l1ozsu87 p1s74fjj s16w0xvi sngcpkw b1fzgn0z\">Skip next section Berlin demonstrators call for &#8216;democracy in Iran&#8217;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"l3vczb5\"><span class=\"time-area s1i8qhb9 icns9en lofg86o m1u0isv1 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\"><span class=\"publication icns9en lofg86o m1u0isv1 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\"><time aria-hidden=\"true\">03\/07\/2026<\/time><span class=\"s28j2rd\">March 7, 2026<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"pmcvy6l h1du6kc5 l1evdo4u p1y8x1v s16w0xvi sngcpkw b1fzgn0z\">Berlin demonstrators call for &#8216;democracy in Iran&#8217;<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<div data-tracking-skip=\"true\" data-tracking-name=\"rich-text\" class=\"post-rich-text c17j8gzx rc0m0op r1ebneao s198y7xq rich-text l1evdo4u blt0baw s16w0xvi rcjjkz7 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\">\n<p>Police in Berlin say that roughly 1,000 people showed up for a demonstration at the city&#8217;s famous <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/brandenburg-gate\/t-19449379\">Brandenburg Gate<\/a> on Saturday to call for democracy in the <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/iran\/t-18996175\">Islamic Republic of Iran<\/a> as well as to honor the memory of those killed or imprisoned by Iran&#8217;s hardline theocratic leadership.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Authorities say organizers had expected 2,000 demonstrators to attend the event. Police in Berlin say the event has remained peaceful.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"placeholder-image master_landscape big\"><img data-format=\"MASTER_LANDSCAPE\" data-id=\"76262118\" data-url=\"https:\/\/static.dw.com\/image\/76262118_${formatId}.jpg\" data-aspect-ratio=\"16\/9\" alt=\"Iranians wave flags in front of Berlin's Brandenburg Gate, one bears the image of Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi\"><figcaption class=\"img-caption\">Demonstrators in Berlin waved Israeli, US and imperial Iranian flags as well as placards and flags bearing pictures of Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi<small class=\"copyright\">Image: Jochen Eckel\/picture alliance<\/small><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>German, US and Israeli flags adorned the speakers&#8217; stage on Saturday and many of those in attendance waved US and Israeli flags as well as Iranian imperial flags and placards bearing the image of Reza Pahlavi, the son of Iran&#8217;s last shah, whose\u00a0reign ended with he and his family fleeing the country during the 1979 Islamic revolution.<\/p>\n<p><a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/irans-exiled-crown-prince-asks-europes-help-to-end-regime\/a-75544196\">Pahlavi has repeatedly called for the overthrow of Iran&#8217;s Islamic regime<\/a> \u2014 from his US home \u2014 and has often been mentioned as a <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/iran-government-post-war-scenarios\/a-76222133\">possible postwar Iranian leader<\/a>.<\/p>\n<div class=\"vjs-wrapper embed big\">\n<h2 aria-label=\"Embedded video \u2014 Iranian Revolution: From Shah to Mullahs\" class=\"headline\">Iranian Revolution: From Shah to Mullahs<\/h2>\n<p><video id=\"video-75736774\" controls playsinline preload=\"none\" poster=\"image\/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAEAAAABCAQAAAC1HAwCAAAAC0lEQVR42mNkYAAAAAYAAjCB0C8AAAAASUVORK5CYII=\" data-id=\"75736774\" data-posterurl=\"https:\/\/static.dw.com\/image\/75720917_605.webp\" data-duration=\"26:04\"><source src=\"https:\/\/hlsvod.dw.com\/i\/dwtv_video\/flv\/a21\/a21260131_Gesamt_,AVC_480x270,AVC_512x288,AVC_640x360,AVC_960x540,AVC_1280x720,AVC_1920x1080,.mp4.csmil\/master.m3u8\" type=\"application\/x-mpegURL\" \/><\/video><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"bp605kw start\"><span class=\"svdcmki\">https:\/\/p.dw.com\/p\/59zLS<\/span><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section data-tracking-name=\"section-liveblog-post\" id=\"liveblog-post-76261909\" class=\"liveblog-post sh8w7rk atfzu66\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/germany-news-state-election-set-to-test-merzs-popularity\/live-76257633#post-liveblog-post-76261909\" class=\"q1knotlb b14agbwd quick-item\"><span class=\"h1du6kc5 l1ozsu87 p1s74fjj s16w0xvi sngcpkw b1fzgn0z\">Skip next section Parties on far ends of political spectrum attract new members as centrists falter<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"l3vczb5\"><span class=\"time-area s1i8qhb9 icns9en lofg86o m1u0isv1 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\"><span class=\"publication icns9en lofg86o m1u0isv1 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\"><time aria-hidden=\"true\">03\/07\/2026<\/time><span class=\"s28j2rd\">March 7, 2026<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"pmcvy6l h1du6kc5 l1evdo4u p1y8x1v s16w0xvi sngcpkw b1fzgn0z\">Parties on far ends of political spectrum attract new members as centrists falter<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<div data-tracking-skip=\"true\" data-tracking-name=\"rich-text\" class=\"post-rich-text c17j8gzx rc0m0op r1ebneao s198y7xq rich-text l1evdo4u blt0baw s16w0xvi rcjjkz7 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\">\n<p>The unpopularity of establishment political parties among German voters has translated into membership surges on the far left and far right of the country&#8217;s political spectrum.<\/p>\n<p>According to the German dpa news agency, the nation&#8217;s largest parties \u2014 <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/friedrich-merz\/t-60575802\">Friedrich Merz<\/a>&#8216;s Christian Democratic Union (<a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/christian-democratic-union-cdu\/t-17351950\">CDU<\/a>) and its Christian Social Union (<a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/christian-social-union-csu\/t-17439619\">CSU<\/a>) Bavarian sister party, as well as their Social Democratic Party (<a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/social-democratic-party-spd\/t-17437818\">SPD<\/a>) coalition partners \u2014\u00a0all saw few voters join their parties in 2025 and even saw membership dwindle.<\/p>\n<p>In contrast, new membership in the <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/left-party\/t-17439669\">Left Party<\/a> more than doubled over the year, jumping to 123,000 in December.<\/p>\n<p>The <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/far-right-populism-in-europe\/t-66108914\">far-right<\/a> Alternative for Germany (<a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/alternative-for-germany-afd\/t-17455253\">AfD<\/a>) also added to its membership rolls, with party treasurer Carsten H\u00fctter telling DPA that his party had 73,108 registered members on January 1, 2026 \u2014 a jump of about 43% for the year.<\/p>\n<p>The left-leaning <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/germanys-green-party\/t-17365878\">Greens<\/a> also saw an increase in membership, though theirs was not nearly as strong as the Left or AfD&#8217;s. The Greens have steadily attracted a growing membership over the past decade and year-on-year growth from 2024 to 2025 was no different. The party saw its ranks grow to 184,000 during that time, an 18.3% increase.<\/p>\n<p>Among coalition members, the CDU was the only party to expand its membership rolls, posting a 1.5% increase that brought total party membership to 132,000.<\/p>\n<p><a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/germany-far-right-afd-rises-in-the-polls\/a-72132087\">Satisfaction has been waning among German voters<\/a> for some time. In December, an INSA poll commissioned by the German tabloid <em>Bild <\/em>found that 63% of voters held an unfavorable view of the governing coalition and 62% said they were dissatisfied with the job Chancellor Merz is doing.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"bp605kw start\"><span class=\"svdcmki\">https:\/\/p.dw.com\/p\/59zCn<\/span><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section data-tracking-name=\"section-liveblog-post\" id=\"liveblog-post-76259752\" class=\"liveblog-post sh8w7rk atfzu66\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/germany-news-state-election-set-to-test-merzs-popularity\/live-76257633#post-liveblog-post-76259752\" class=\"q1knotlb b14agbwd quick-item\"><span class=\"h1du6kc5 l1ozsu87 p1s74fjj s16w0xvi sngcpkw b1fzgn0z\">Skip next section More vacationers return to Germany after Middle East stranding<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"l3vczb5\"><span class=\"time-area s1i8qhb9 icns9en lofg86o m1u0isv1 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\"><span class=\"publication icns9en lofg86o m1u0isv1 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\"><time aria-hidden=\"true\">03\/07\/2026<\/time><span class=\"s28j2rd\">March 7, 2026<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"pmcvy6l h1du6kc5 l1evdo4u p1y8x1v s16w0xvi sngcpkw b1fzgn0z\">More vacationers return to Germany after Middle East stranding<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<div data-tracking-skip=\"true\" data-tracking-name=\"rich-text\" class=\"post-rich-text c17j8gzx rc0m0op r1ebneao s198y7xq rich-text l1evdo4u blt0baw s16w0xvi rcjjkz7 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\">\n<p>Altogether 640 passengers from the cruise ship Mein Schiff 4 arrived back in Germany from the Middle East on Saturday\u00a0on two evacuation flights chartered from Oman by the ship&#8217;s operator, TUI\u00a0Cruises, a company spokesman said.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;More than 2,000 guests from the Mein Schiff 4 are now back home,&#8221;\u00a0said the spokesman.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>He said that around 2,500 people were originally on board the ship.<\/p>\n<p>Return flights are also being organized for around the same number of\u00a0passengers on another company liner,\u00a0Mein Schiff 5,\u00a0also trapped in the region by the <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/us-israel-war-with-iran\/t-76168615\">Middle East war.<\/a><\/p>\n<p>He said it was not yet clear when those flights would take place.<\/p>\n<p>The company operates eight ships under the Mein Schiff (My Ship) brand.<\/p>\n<p><a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/iran-war-tens-of-thousands-of-german-travelers-stranded\/a-76183772\">Tour operators said on Tuesday that tens of thousands of travelers from Germany had been\u00a0stranded<\/a> after Israel and the US attacked Iran last Saturday, triggering an ever-widening Middle East conflict that has led both to airspace closures and shipping disruptions. Many of them have since returned.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"bp605kw start\"><span class=\"svdcmki\">https:\/\/p.dw.com\/p\/59ye0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section data-tracking-name=\"section-liveblog-post\" id=\"liveblog-post-76260418\" class=\"liveblog-post sh8w7rk atfzu66\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/germany-news-state-election-set-to-test-merzs-popularity\/live-76257633#post-liveblog-post-76260418\" class=\"q1knotlb b14agbwd quick-item\"><span class=\"h1du6kc5 l1ozsu87 p1s74fjj s16w0xvi sngcpkw b1fzgn0z\">Skip next section AfD&#8217;s Weidel backs new state youth wing despite negative intelligence classification  <\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"l3vczb5\"><span class=\"time-area s1i8qhb9 icns9en lofg86o m1u0isv1 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\"><span class=\"publication icns9en lofg86o m1u0isv1 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\"><time aria-hidden=\"true\">03\/07\/2026<\/time><span class=\"s28j2rd\">March 7, 2026<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"pmcvy6l h1du6kc5 l1evdo4u p1y8x1v s16w0xvi sngcpkw b1fzgn0z\">AfD&#8217;s Weidel backs new state youth wing despite negative intelligence classification  <\/h2>\n<div class=\"a9wq4ao author-details\"><span><span class=\"extra-info lxmvniw m4xla6a s16w0xvi rcjjkz7 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\"> Editor<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-tracking-skip=\"true\" data-tracking-name=\"rich-text\" class=\"post-rich-text c17j8gzx rc0m0op r1ebneao s198y7xq rich-text l1evdo4u blt0baw s16w0xvi rcjjkz7 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\">\n<p>The leader of the far-right <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/alternative-for-germany-afd\/t-17455253\">Alternative for Germany (AfD)<\/a> party, <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/alice-weidel\/t-60576421\">Alice Weidel<\/a>, has said she stands behind a <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/afd-youth-a-training-ground-for-germanys-far-right\/a-74934896\">new youth wing<\/a> of the party founded in <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/north-rhine-westphalia\/t-18943637\">North Rhine-Westphalia<\/a> (NRW) despite its classication by domestic intelligence on Friday as a &#8220;suspected case&#8221; of right-wing extremism.<\/p>\n<p>Weidel called the classification &#8220;another medal that we can pin to our lapel&#8221; in her remarks at the\u00a0conference of the NRW chapter of her party in the city of Marl.<\/p>\n<p>The NRW youth wing, named Generation Deutschland (Generation Germany),\u00a0was founded only in January, succeeding another party youth organization, Junge Alternative NRW, which was also under observation for extremist tendencies and officially disbanded in 2025.<\/p>\n<p>State domestic intelligence authories said on Friday that they see indications that Generation Deutschland has taken over many of the same members from the previous organization and is de facto a continuation of it under a different name.<\/p>\n<p>The classification as &#8220;suspected case&#8221; means that Generation Deutschland&#8217;s activities can be monitored by the domestic intelligence agency.<\/p>\n<p>The AfD has said it will fight back against the decision, calling it &#8220;indefensible and partisan.&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"bp605kw start\"><span class=\"svdcmki\">https:\/\/p.dw.com\/p\/59yok<\/span><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section data-tracking-name=\"section-liveblog-post\" id=\"liveblog-post-76259036\" class=\"liveblog-post sh8w7rk atfzu66\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/germany-news-state-election-set-to-test-merzs-popularity\/live-76257633#post-liveblog-post-76259036\" class=\"q1knotlb b14agbwd quick-item\"><span class=\"h1du6kc5 l1ozsu87 p1s74fjj s16w0xvi sngcpkw b1fzgn0z\">Skip next section Germany gets first gold at Winter Paralympics<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"l3vczb5\"><span class=\"time-area s1i8qhb9 icns9en lofg86o m1u0isv1 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\"><span class=\"publication icns9en lofg86o m1u0isv1 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\"><time aria-hidden=\"true\">03\/07\/2026<\/time><span class=\"s28j2rd\">March 7, 2026<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"pmcvy6l h1du6kc5 l1evdo4u p1y8x1v s16w0xvi sngcpkw b1fzgn0z\">Germany gets first gold at Winter Paralympics<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<div data-tracking-skip=\"true\" data-tracking-name=\"rich-text\" class=\"post-rich-text c17j8gzx rc0m0op r1ebneao s198y7xq rich-text l1evdo4u blt0baw s16w0xvi rcjjkz7 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\">\n<figure class=\"placeholder-image master_landscape big\"><img data-format=\"MASTER_LANDSCAPE\" data-id=\"76259068\" data-url=\"https:\/\/static.dw.com\/image\/76259068_${formatId}.jpg\" data-aspect-ratio=\"16\/9\" alt=\" Woman sit-skiing\"><figcaption class=\"img-caption\">Anna-Lena Forster won the women&#8217;s downhill sit-skiing<small class=\"copyright\">Image: Mikhail Tereshchenko\/ZUMA\/IMAGO<\/small><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Skier Anna-Lena Forster has claimed the first gold medal for Germany at the <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/paralympic-winter-games-what-you-need-to-know\/a-76228842\">Milan\/Cortina Winter Paralympics<\/a>, winning the\u00a0women&#8217;s para-alpine skiing downhill.<\/p>\n<p>It is the fifth Paralympic gold medal of the 30-year-old&#8217;s career, and her first in the downhill discipline.<\/p>\n<p>Germany&#8217;s Anja Wicker also won a bronze medal for her biathlon performance on what is the first day of the competition.\u00a0<br \/>\n\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"bp605kw start\"><span class=\"svdcmki\">https:\/\/p.dw.com\/p\/59ySS<\/span><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section data-tracking-name=\"section-liveblog-post\" id=\"liveblog-post-76258573\" class=\"liveblog-post sh8w7rk atfzu66\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/germany-news-state-election-set-to-test-merzs-popularity\/live-76257633#post-liveblog-post-76258573\" class=\"q1knotlb b14agbwd quick-item\"><span class=\"h1du6kc5 l1ozsu87 p1s74fjj s16w0xvi sngcpkw b1fzgn0z\">Skip next section Surveys show rising AfD support ahead of Bavarian local elections<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"l3vczb5\"><span class=\"time-area s1i8qhb9 icns9en lofg86o m1u0isv1 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\"><span class=\"publication icns9en lofg86o m1u0isv1 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\"><time aria-hidden=\"true\">03\/07\/2026<\/time><span class=\"s28j2rd\">March 7, 2026<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"pmcvy6l h1du6kc5 l1evdo4u p1y8x1v s16w0xvi sngcpkw b1fzgn0z\">Surveys show rising AfD support ahead of Bavarian local elections<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<div data-tracking-skip=\"true\" data-tracking-name=\"rich-text\" class=\"post-rich-text c17j8gzx rc0m0op r1ebneao s198y7xq rich-text l1evdo4u blt0baw s16w0xvi rcjjkz7 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\">\n<p>Voters in the southern German state of <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/bavaria\/t-18968282\">Bavaria<\/a> will be choosing mayors and city and district councillors in an election on Sunday, with more than 10 million people eligible to cast a ballot.<\/p>\n<p>Only women and men aged 18 and older will be able to vote, with Bavaria, Hessen, Rhineland-Palatinate, Saarland and Saxony the only of Germany&#8217;s 16 states to not allow 16-year-olds a ballot in local elections of this kind.<\/p>\n<p>Although the <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/christian-social-union-csu\/t-17439619\">Christian Social Union (CSU)<\/a> \u2014 the Bavarian sister party to the <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/christian-democratic-union-cdu\/t-17351950\">Christian Democrats (CDU)<\/a> of Chancellor <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/friedrich-merz\/t-60575802\">Friedrich Merz<\/a> \u2014 has by far the biggest chances of winning, it will be the result gained by\u00a0the\u00a0far-right\u00a0<a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/alternative-for-germany-afd\/t-17455253\">Alternative for Germany (AfD)<\/a> party that will draw most attention.<\/p>\n<p>In local elections six years ago, the party, which espouses a vehemently nationalistic, anti-immigration agenda, received only 4.7% of the vote, compared with 34.5% for the CSU and 17.5% for the <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/germanys-green-party\/t-17365878\">Green Party<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Now, however, a new survey from broadcaster Sat. 1 has\u00a0shown\u00a0that\u00a0the AfD, the strongest opposition force at the national level, could receive some 14% of the vote, making it the second-strongest party at the local level.<\/p>\n<p>The Greens, in contrast, having achieved a record vote in 2000, were at just 10% in the survey.<\/p>\n<p>The mayoral contest in the state capital of Munich is also likely to be followed with interest as Mayor Dieter Reiter of the Social Democrats (SPD) seeks a third term.<\/p>\n<p>Reiter, 67, remains the favourite to win, though some scandals, including his use of the N-word at a council meeting on Wednesday \u2014 which he said was in a quote from the late musician\u00a0Fredl Fesl \u2014\u00a0have clouded the last part of his campaign.<\/p>\n<p>Final results might be some days in coming owing to the complexities of the voting system.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<br \/>\n\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"bp605kw start\"><span class=\"svdcmki\">https:\/\/p.dw.com\/p\/59yKz<\/span><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section data-tracking-name=\"section-liveblog-post\" id=\"liveblog-post-76258620\" class=\"liveblog-post sh8w7rk atfzu66\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/germany-news-state-election-set-to-test-merzs-popularity\/live-76257633#post-liveblog-post-76258620\" class=\"q1knotlb b14agbwd quick-item\"><span class=\"h1du6kc5 l1ozsu87 p1s74fjj s16w0xvi sngcpkw b1fzgn0z\">Skip next section Merz rejects accusations of over-deference to Trump at Oval Office meeting<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"l3vczb5\"><span class=\"time-area s1i8qhb9 icns9en lofg86o m1u0isv1 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\"><span class=\"publication icns9en lofg86o m1u0isv1 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\"><time aria-hidden=\"true\">03\/07\/2026<\/time><span class=\"s28j2rd\">March 7, 2026<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"pmcvy6l h1du6kc5 l1evdo4u p1y8x1v s16w0xvi sngcpkw b1fzgn0z\">Merz rejects accusations of over-deference to Trump at Oval Office meeting<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<div data-tracking-skip=\"true\" data-tracking-name=\"rich-text\" class=\"post-rich-text c17j8gzx rc0m0op r1ebneao s198y7xq rich-text l1evdo4u blt0baw s16w0xvi rcjjkz7 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\">\n<figure class=\"placeholder-image master_landscape big\"><img data-format=\"MASTER_LANDSCAPE\" data-id=\"76212061\" data-url=\"https:\/\/static.dw.com\/image\/76212061_${formatId}.jpg\" data-aspect-ratio=\"16\/9\" alt=\"Friedrich Merz and Donald Trump in the Oval Office, Trump grinning at camera\"><figcaption class=\"img-caption\">Merz is widely seen as one of the few European leaders to have Trump&#8217;s respect<small class=\"copyright\">Image: Mark Schiefelbein\/AP Photo\/picture alliance<\/small><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>German Chancellor <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/friedrich-merz\/t-60575802\">Friedrich Merz<\/a> has defended his seemingly reticent\u00a0behavior toward US Donald Trump\u00a0during <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/trump-and-merz-discuss-iran-tariffs-and-ukraine\/live-76199914\">his visit to the White House in Washington this week,<\/a> where some hoped that the German leader <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/donald-trump-berates-spain-friedrich-merz-listens\/a-76214453\">would express\u00a0more criticism of certain of the US leader&#8217;s actions.<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&#8220;When the cameras are rolling, I&#8217;m not going to start arguing with the US president,&#8221; Merz said at a campaign rally in the town of Stockach during a campaign event ahead of Sunday&#8217;s state election in Baden-W\u00fcrttemberg.<\/p>\n<p>Merz explained that he continued to focus on shared values in his dealings with the US in view of the fact that Europe &#8220;will remain dependent on the Americans for the time being&#8221; when it comes to defense.<\/p>\n<p>Merz&#8217;s talks with Trump at the White House centered on the <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/us-israel-war-with-iran\/t-76168615\">war in Iran<\/a> and trade issues amid the <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/trump-tariffs\/t-71496505\">US president&#8217;s unpredictable tariff policy.<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"bp605kw start\"><span class=\"svdcmki\">https:\/\/p.dw.com\/p\/59yLk<\/span><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section data-tracking-name=\"section-liveblog-post\" id=\"liveblog-post-76258452\" class=\"liveblog-post sh8w7rk atfzu66\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/germany-news-state-election-set-to-test-merzs-popularity\/live-76257633#post-liveblog-post-76258452\" class=\"q1knotlb b14agbwd quick-item\"><span class=\"h1du6kc5 l1ozsu87 p1s74fjj s16w0xvi sngcpkw b1fzgn0z\">Skip next section &#8216;Europe must take its destiny into its own hands&#8217; \u2014 ex-Chancellor Merkel <\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"l3vczb5\"><span class=\"time-area s1i8qhb9 icns9en lofg86o m1u0isv1 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\"><span class=\"publication icns9en lofg86o m1u0isv1 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\"><time aria-hidden=\"true\">03\/07\/2026<\/time><span class=\"s28j2rd\">March 7, 2026<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"pmcvy6l h1du6kc5 l1evdo4u p1y8x1v s16w0xvi sngcpkw b1fzgn0z\">&#8216;Europe must take its destiny into its own hands&#8217; \u2014 ex-Chancellor Merkel <\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<div data-tracking-skip=\"true\" data-tracking-name=\"rich-text\" class=\"post-rich-text c17j8gzx rc0m0op r1ebneao s198y7xq rich-text l1evdo4u blt0baw s16w0xvi rcjjkz7 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\">\n<figure class=\"placeholder-image master_landscape big\"><img data-format=\"MASTER_LANDSCAPE\" data-id=\"76256915\" data-url=\"https:\/\/static.dw.com\/image\/76256915_${formatId}.jpg\" data-aspect-ratio=\"16\/9\" alt=\" Angela Merkel, woman speaking at lectern with coat of arms\"><figcaption class=\"img-caption\">Merkel became, mostly affectionately, known as &#8216;Mutti&#8217; (Mommy) during her tenure as chancellor<small class=\"copyright\">Image: Fernando Soares\/HMB Media\/picture alliance<\/small><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/angela-merkel\/t-17280098\">Angela Merkel<\/a>, who was Germany&#8217;s leader from 2005 to 2021, has called on European countries to demonstrate a unified front amid the current array of global crises and war.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Europe must take its destiny into its own hands more than ever,&#8221; the conservative politician told some 400 guests\u00a0at the annual St. Matthew&#8217;s\u00a0Day Banquet in Hamburg City Hall.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0&#8220;This goes far beyond the aspect of security for me,&#8221; she said, saying that a united Europe would mean one that stood up for democracy, the rule of law, human dignity, prosperity and jobs, while protecting external borders and cultural identity.<\/p>\n<p>She also urged the EU to work toward becoming more independent in the digital sector.<\/p>\n<p><a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/merkel-recalls-childhood-putin-and-trump-in-new-memoir\/a-70840829\">Merkel<\/a> also said she wanted the EU to support <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/russias-war-in-ukraine\/t-60931789\">Ukraine in its fight against the Russian invasion<\/a> both militarily and diplomatically.<\/p>\n<p>The EU should\u00a0&#8220;act both as a military supporter of Ukraine against the aggressor Russia \u2014\u00a0this is important and indispensable \u2014\u00a0but also to bring its diplomatic strength to bear in ending this war of aggression.&#8221;<br \/>\n\u00a0\u00a0<br \/>\n&#8220;This is about Europe&#8217;s vital interests,&#8221; she said, adding that both military and diplomatic efforts were needed so &#8220;that Russia does not win the war and thus Ukraine has a future as a sovereign state in peace and freedom.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>The St. Matthew&#8217;s Day Banquet (German:\u00a0Matthiae-Mahl) is the world&#8217;s oldest banquet still to be celebrated, the city of Hamburg said.<\/p>\n<p>The day was considered the start of the business year in the Middle Ages.<br \/>\n\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"bp605kw start\"><span class=\"svdcmki\">https:\/\/p.dw.com\/p\/59yJ2<\/span><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section data-tracking-name=\"section-liveblog-post\" id=\"liveblog-post-76258280\" class=\"liveblog-post sh8w7rk atfzu66\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/germany-news-state-election-set-to-test-merzs-popularity\/live-76257633#post-liveblog-post-76258280\" class=\"q1knotlb b14agbwd quick-item\"><span class=\"h1du6kc5 l1ozsu87 p1s74fjj s16w0xvi sngcpkw b1fzgn0z\">Skip next section One in four private households has no savings \u2014 survey<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"l3vczb5\"><span class=\"time-area s1i8qhb9 icns9en lofg86o m1u0isv1 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\"><span class=\"publication icns9en lofg86o m1u0isv1 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\"><time aria-hidden=\"true\">03\/07\/2026<\/time><span class=\"s28j2rd\">March 7, 2026<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"pmcvy6l h1du6kc5 l1evdo4u p1y8x1v s16w0xvi sngcpkw b1fzgn0z\">One in four private households has no savings \u2014 survey<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<div data-tracking-skip=\"true\" data-tracking-name=\"rich-text\" class=\"post-rich-text c17j8gzx rc0m0op r1ebneao s198y7xq rich-text l1evdo4u blt0baw s16w0xvi rcjjkz7 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\">\n<p>More than a quarter of households in Germany have no money set aside, despite a record growth in the overall wealth of private households, a new survey has shown.<\/p>\n<p>Some 27% of 1,007 respondents in a survey conducted by polling institute Ipsos for ING bank said they had no financial cushion to fall back on, with half of those saying they did not earn enough to save anything.<\/p>\n<p>Around one in five of them (22%) attributed their lack of savings to rising living costs.<\/p>\n<p>A similar number (17.9%) said they had trouble sleeping because of financial worries, while more than a third (36.5%) said they agreed with the statement,\u00a0&#8220;Because of my financial situation, I feel that I will never have the things in life that I want.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>The result highlights the unequal distribution of wealth in Germany, where, according the central bank, the <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/bundesbank\/t-17437697\">Bundesbank<\/a>, around half is held by the richest 10% of households \u2014\u00a0roughly 4 million households \u2014\u00a0while about 20 million households hold just 8% of total financial wealth.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"bp605kw start\"><span class=\"svdcmki\">https:\/\/p.dw.com\/p\/59yGG<\/span><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section data-tracking-name=\"section-liveblog-post\" id=\"liveblog-post-76258062\" class=\"liveblog-post sh8w7rk atfzu66\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/germany-news-state-election-set-to-test-merzs-popularity\/live-76257633#post-liveblog-post-76258062\" class=\"q1knotlb b14agbwd quick-item\"><span class=\"h1du6kc5 l1ozsu87 p1s74fjj s16w0xvi sngcpkw b1fzgn0z\">Skip next section READ: Merz hopes for boost in state election<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"l3vczb5\"><span class=\"time-area s1i8qhb9 icns9en lofg86o m1u0isv1 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\"><span class=\"publication icns9en lofg86o m1u0isv1 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\"><time aria-hidden=\"true\">03\/07\/2026<\/time><span class=\"s28j2rd\">March 7, 2026<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"pmcvy6l h1du6kc5 l1evdo4u p1y8x1v s16w0xvi sngcpkw b1fzgn0z\">READ: Merz hopes for boost in state election<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<div data-tracking-skip=\"true\" data-tracking-name=\"rich-text\" class=\"post-rich-text c17j8gzx rc0m0op r1ebneao s198y7xq rich-text l1evdo4u blt0baw s16w0xvi rcjjkz7 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\">\n<p>Sunday&#8217;s election in Baden-W\u00fcrttemberg is the first of five state elections scheduled for this year.<\/p>\n<p>Chancellor Friedrich Merz will be hoping that the result gives him the support he needs to push through reforms.<\/p>\n<p>You can read more about the issues at stake in the election on one of Germany&#8217;s wealthiest states here:\u00a0<a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/german-state-election-set-to-have-far-reaching-consequences\/a-76188172\">German state election set to have far-reaching consequences<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"bp605kw start\"><span class=\"svdcmki\">https:\/\/p.dw.com\/p\/59yCk<\/span><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section data-tracking-name=\"section-liveblog-post\" id=\"liveblog-post-76258054\" class=\"liveblog-post sh8w7rk atfzu66\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/germany-news-state-election-set-to-test-merzs-popularity\/live-76257633#post-liveblog-post-76258054\" class=\"q1knotlb b14agbwd quick-item\"><span class=\"h1du6kc5 l1ozsu87 p1s74fjj s16w0xvi sngcpkw b1fzgn0z\">Skip next section Merz faces popularity test in state election<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"l3vczb5\"><span class=\"time-area s1i8qhb9 icns9en lofg86o m1u0isv1 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\"><span class=\"publication icns9en lofg86o m1u0isv1 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\"><time aria-hidden=\"true\">03\/07\/2026<\/time><span class=\"s28j2rd\">March 7, 2026<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"pmcvy6l h1du6kc5 l1evdo4u p1y8x1v s16w0xvi sngcpkw b1fzgn0z\">Merz faces popularity test in state election<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<div data-tracking-skip=\"true\" data-tracking-name=\"rich-text\" class=\"post-rich-text c17j8gzx rc0m0op r1ebneao s198y7xq rich-text l1evdo4u blt0baw s16w0xvi rcjjkz7 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\">\n<p>Chancellor <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/friedrich-merz\/t-60575802\">Friedrich Merz<\/a> will doubtless watch Sunday&#8217;s election in the southwestern state of <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/baden-w%C3%BCrttemberg\/t-18962334\">Baden-W\u00fcrttemberg<\/a> with some anxiety after the latest polls showed his conservative <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/christian-democratic-union-cdu\/t-17351950\">Christian Democrats (CDU)<\/a> losing their\u00a0monthslong lead.<\/p>\n<p>If the <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/germanys-green-party\/t-17365878\">Green Party,<\/a> which has drawn level with the CDU in surveys,\u00a0were to attain an unexpected third consecutive victory in the state, it would be seen as somewhat of an\u00a0indictment for the German leader after 10 months in office.<\/p>\n<p>The election seems nonetheless likely to confirm the state&#8217;s current Green-CDU coalition government.<\/p>\n<p>The Greens, with their lead candidate, former Agriculture Minister\u00a0<a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/cem-%C3%B6zdemir\/t-68196315\">Cem \u00d6zdemir<\/a>, were polling at 28% on Thursday to match the CDU, whose candidate, Manuel Hagel, has seen his support fade amid an uproar <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/german-state-election-set-to-have-far-reaching-consequences\/a-76188172\">over controversial comments he made about schoolgirls eight years ago.<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u00d6zdemir is the favourite to take over the post of state premier from his party colleague Winfried Kretschmann, who has led the state since 2011, at first in a coalition with the Social Democrats (SPD), and then with the CDU since 2016.<\/p>\n<p>Kretschmann, 77, who enjoys wide personal popularity across the political spectrum, will not be standing as candidate this time round.<\/p>\n<p>On Friday, Merz made an appearance in the city of Ravensburg as campaigning drew to a close, stressing the importance of the election while conceding that it will be &#8220;closer than we thought.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Baden-W\u00fcrttemberg is one of the most prosperous states in Germany and a stronghold of the country&#8217;s crucial carmaking industry.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"bp605kw start\"><span class=\"svdcmki\">https:\/\/p.dw.com\/p\/59yCc<\/span><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section data-tracking-name=\"section-liveblog-post\" id=\"liveblog-post-76257704\" class=\"liveblog-post sh8w7rk atfzu66\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/germany-news-state-election-set-to-test-merzs-popularity\/live-76257633#post-liveblog-post-76257704\" class=\"q1knotlb b14agbwd quick-item\"><span class=\"h1du6kc5 l1ozsu87 p1s74fjj s16w0xvi sngcpkw b1fzgn0z\">Skip next section Welcome to our Germany coverage<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"l3vczb5\"><span class=\"time-area s1i8qhb9 icns9en lofg86o m1u0isv1 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\"><span class=\"publication icns9en lofg86o m1u0isv1 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\"><time aria-hidden=\"true\">03\/07\/2026<\/time><span class=\"s28j2rd\">March 7, 2026<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"pmcvy6l h1du6kc5 l1evdo4u p1y8x1v s16w0xvi sngcpkw b1fzgn0z\">Welcome to our Germany coverage<\/h2>\n<div class=\"a9wq4ao author-details\"><span><span class=\"separator lxmvniw m4xla6a s16w0xvi rcjjkz7 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\"> | <\/span><span class=\"extra-info lxmvniw m4xla6a s16w0xvi rcjjkz7 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\"> Editor<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-tracking-skip=\"true\" data-tracking-name=\"rich-text\" class=\"post-rich-text c17j8gzx rc0m0op r1ebneao s198y7xq rich-text l1evdo4u blt0baw s16w0xvi rcjjkz7 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\">\n<p><em>Guten Tag\u00a0<\/em>from the DW newsroom on the banks of the Rhine in Bonn!<\/p>\n<p>You join us as Germany is set to kick off a year of multiple regional\u00a0elections on Sunday, with voters to go to the polls in <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/baden-w%C3%BCrttemberg\/t-18962334\">Baden-W\u00fcrttemberg<\/a>, one of the country&#8217;s biggest and wealthiest states.<\/p>\n<p>The election seems likely to confirm the state&#8217;s present coalition of conservative Christian Democrats and Greens, with surveys suggesting that Green candidate Cem \u00d6zdemir might have the edge over his CDU rival,\u00a0Manuel Hagel, when it comes to choosing the state&#8217;s premier.<\/p>\n<p>The elections will be seen both as a test of CDU Chancellor <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/friedrich-merz\/t-60575802\">Friedrich Merz<\/a>&#8216;s popularity after 10 months in office and a gauge of the strength of the far-right AfD party.<\/p>\n<p>This comes as many in Germany say that they have no financial cushion to fall back on, either because they earn too little to save or because the rising cost of living is having an impact.<\/p>\n<p>We invite you to read more about these and other stories from and about Europe&#8217;s biggest economy on Saturday, March 7.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"bp605kw start\"><span class=\"svdcmki\">https:\/\/p.dw.com\/p\/59y6y<\/span><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<div class=\"h4zlaoh bp605kw center\">\n<div role=\"button\" data-tracking-name=\"show-more\" class=\"show-more-button s1va3u11 t1y9040i m7i2pic e3w9kkf b19vsmfu cx4rgdt ih9bob8 disabled sngcpkw w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\">Show more posts<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<div data-tracking-skip=\"true\" data-tracking-name=\"rich-text\" class=\"c17j8gzx rc0m0op r1ebneao s198y7xq rich-text l1evdo4u blt0baw s16w0xvi rcjjkz7 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\">\n<ul>\n<li>The first of five state elections this year is being seen as a barometer of Chancellor Friedrich Merz&#8217;s popularity<\/li>\n<li>A survey shows that many people in Germany are plagued by financial worries<\/li>\n<li>AfD&#8217;s Weidel backs new state youth wing despite negative intelligence classification<\/li>\n<li>More vacationers return to Germany after Middle East stranding<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><em>These live updates have closed. Thank you for reading. <\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>Below, you can review a roundup of news and human interest stories from <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/germany\/t-17871182\">Germany<\/a>\u00a0from\u00a0Saturday, March 7, 2026:\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><em>These live updates have closed. Thank you for reading. <\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>Below, you can review a roundup of news and human interest stories from <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/germany\/t-17871182\">Germany<\/a>\u00a0from\u00a0Saturday, March 7, 2026:\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n<div data-tracking-skip=\"true\" data-tracking-name=\"rich-text\" class=\"post-rich-text c17j8gzx rc0m0op r1ebneao s198y7xq rich-text l1evdo4u blt0baw s16w0xvi rcjjkz7 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\">\n<div class=\"vjs-wrapper embed big\">\n<h2 aria-label=\"Embedded video \u2014 How a Jewish family's moped brand became a far-right symbol\" class=\"headline\">How a Jewish family&#8217;s moped brand became a far-right symbol<\/h2>\n<p><video id=\"video-76261714\" controls playsinline preload=\"none\" poster=\"image\/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAEAAAABCAQAAAC1HAwCAAAAC0lEQVR42mNkYAAAAAYAAjCB0C8AAAAASUVORK5CYII=\" data-id=\"76261714\" data-posterurl=\"https:\/\/static.dw.com\/image\/76261866_605.webp\" data-duration=\"11:28\"><source src=\"https:\/\/hlsvod.dw.com\/i\/vps\/webvideos\/ENG\/2026\/NEWS\/NEWSENG260307_NewsFocus_Simson_01SMW_,AVC_480x270,AVC_512x288,AVC_640x360,AVC_960x540,AVC_1280x720,AVC_1920x1080,.mp4.csmil\/master.m3u8\" type=\"application\/x-mpegURL\" \/><\/video><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"vjs-no-js\">To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that <a href=\"https:\/\/videojs.com\/html5-video-support\/\" target=\"_blank\">supports HTML5 video<\/a><\/p>\n<div data-tracking-skip=\"true\" data-tracking-name=\"rich-text\" class=\"post-rich-text c17j8gzx rc0m0op r1ebneao s198y7xq rich-text l1evdo4u blt0baw s16w0xvi rcjjkz7 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\">\n<p>German authorities failed to carry out some 60% of all planned <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/germany-resumes-deportations-to-syria-for-first-time-since-2011\/a-75287833\">deportations<\/a> in 2025 according to figures cited by the German dpa news agency.<\/p>\n<p>Police speaking with dpa\u00a0confirmed that 22,787 deportations were carried out in 2025, as opposed to 32,855 that were not.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Of all cases involving individuals not ultimately deported, some 11,184 had <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/how-does-germany-deport-people\/a-75683771\">deportation requests<\/a> cancelled, while bureaucratic hitches between state and federal authorities accounted for the cancellation of 21,341 deportations.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>State interior ministers have sounded the alarm, saying the numbers have to change.<\/p>\n<p>Among the suggestions being put forth now are the possible tracking of cellphones owned by individuals <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/germany-migration-syria-deportations-repatriation\/a-74610937\">slated for deportation<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/hesse\/t-18967716\">Hesse<\/a>&#8216;s Interior Minister Roman Poseck told the German newspaper\u00a0<em>Die Welt<\/em>, that this\u00a0&#8220;is not about putting everyone who is required to leave the country under general suspicion.&#8221; He added\u00a0that such measures would only be employed if authorities were unable to locate an individual slated for deportation. \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/p>\n<p><a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/saxony\/t-18967998\">Saxony<\/a>&#8216;s Interior Minister Armin Schuster seconded Poseck&#8217;s plan, telling <em>Die Welt<\/em> that it would be even better if scheduled deportees were unable to go into hiding in the first place.<\/p>\n<p>To that end, Schuster has called on the EU to allow member states use\u00a0detention centers to\u00a0detain people pending deportation.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>German authorities failed to carry out some 60% of all planned <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/germany-resumes-deportations-to-syria-for-first-time-since-2011\/a-75287833\">deportations<\/a> in 2025 according to figures cited by the German dpa news agency.<\/p>\n<p>Police speaking with dpa\u00a0confirmed that 22,787 deportations were carried out in 2025, as opposed to 32,855 that were not.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Of all cases involving individuals not ultimately deported, some 11,184 had <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/how-does-germany-deport-people\/a-75683771\">deportation requests<\/a> cancelled, while bureaucratic hitches between state and federal authorities accounted for the cancellation of 21,341 deportations.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>State interior ministers have sounded the alarm, saying the numbers have to change.<\/p>\n<p>Among the suggestions being put forth now are the possible tracking of cellphones owned by individuals <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/germany-migration-syria-deportations-repatriation\/a-74610937\">slated for deportation<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/hesse\/t-18967716\">Hesse<\/a>&#8216;s Interior Minister Roman Poseck told the German newspaper\u00a0<em>Die Welt<\/em>, that this\u00a0&#8220;is not about putting everyone who is required to leave the country under general suspicion.&#8221; He added\u00a0that such measures would only be employed if authorities were unable to locate an individual slated for deportation. \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/p>\n<p><a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/saxony\/t-18967998\">Saxony<\/a>&#8216;s Interior Minister Armin Schuster seconded Poseck&#8217;s plan, telling <em>Die Welt<\/em> that it would be even better if scheduled deportees were unable to go into hiding in the first place.<\/p>\n<p>To that end, Schuster has called on the EU to allow member states use\u00a0detention centers to\u00a0detain people pending deportation.<\/p>\n<div data-tracking-skip=\"true\" data-tracking-name=\"rich-text\" class=\"post-rich-text c17j8gzx rc0m0op r1ebneao s198y7xq rich-text l1evdo4u blt0baw s16w0xvi rcjjkz7 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\">\n<p>Police in Berlin say that roughly 1,000 people showed up for a demonstration at the city&#8217;s famous <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/brandenburg-gate\/t-19449379\">Brandenburg Gate<\/a> on Saturday to call for democracy in the <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/iran\/t-18996175\">Islamic Republic of Iran<\/a> as well as to honor the memory of those killed or imprisoned by Iran&#8217;s hardline theocratic leadership.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Authorities say organizers had expected 2,000 demonstrators to attend the event. Police in Berlin say the event has remained peaceful.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"placeholder-image master_landscape big\"><img data-format=\"MASTER_LANDSCAPE\" data-id=\"76262118\" data-url=\"https:\/\/static.dw.com\/image\/76262118_${formatId}.jpg\" data-aspect-ratio=\"16\/9\" alt=\"Iranians wave flags in front of Berlin's Brandenburg Gate, one bears the image of Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi\"><figcaption class=\"img-caption\">Demonstrators in Berlin waved Israeli, US and imperial Iranian flags as well as placards and flags bearing pictures of Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi<small class=\"copyright\">Image: Jochen Eckel\/picture alliance<\/small><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>German, US and Israeli flags adorned the speakers&#8217; stage on Saturday and many of those in attendance waved US and Israeli flags as well as Iranian imperial flags and placards bearing the image of Reza Pahlavi, the son of Iran&#8217;s last shah, whose\u00a0reign ended with he and his family fleeing the country during the 1979 Islamic revolution.<\/p>\n<p><a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/irans-exiled-crown-prince-asks-europes-help-to-end-regime\/a-75544196\">Pahlavi has repeatedly called for the overthrow of Iran&#8217;s Islamic regime<\/a> \u2014 from his US home \u2014 and has often been mentioned as a <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/iran-government-post-war-scenarios\/a-76222133\">possible postwar Iranian leader<\/a>.<\/p>\n<div class=\"vjs-wrapper embed big\">\n<h2 aria-label=\"Embedded video \u2014 Iranian Revolution: From Shah to Mullahs\" class=\"headline\">Iranian Revolution: From Shah to Mullahs<\/h2>\n<p><video id=\"video-75736774\" controls playsinline preload=\"none\" poster=\"image\/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAEAAAABCAQAAAC1HAwCAAAAC0lEQVR42mNkYAAAAAYAAjCB0C8AAAAASUVORK5CYII=\" data-id=\"75736774\" data-posterurl=\"https:\/\/static.dw.com\/image\/75720917_605.webp\" data-duration=\"26:04\"><source src=\"https:\/\/hlsvod.dw.com\/i\/dwtv_video\/flv\/a21\/a21260131_Gesamt_,AVC_480x270,AVC_512x288,AVC_640x360,AVC_960x540,AVC_1280x720,AVC_1920x1080,.mp4.csmil\/master.m3u8\" type=\"application\/x-mpegURL\" \/><\/video><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Police in Berlin say that roughly 1,000 people showed up for a demonstration at the city&#8217;s famous <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/brandenburg-gate\/t-19449379\">Brandenburg Gate<\/a> on Saturday to call for democracy in the <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/iran\/t-18996175\">Islamic Republic of Iran<\/a> as well as to honor the memory of those killed or imprisoned by Iran&#8217;s hardline theocratic leadership.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Authorities say organizers had expected 2,000 demonstrators to attend the event. Police in Berlin say the event has remained peaceful.<\/p>\n<p>German, US and Israeli flags adorned the speakers&#8217; stage on Saturday and many of those in attendance waved US and Israeli flags as well as Iranian imperial flags and placards bearing the image of Reza Pahlavi, the son of Iran&#8217;s last shah, whose\u00a0reign ended with he and his family fleeing the country during the 1979 Islamic revolution.<\/p>\n<p><a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/irans-exiled-crown-prince-asks-europes-help-to-end-regime\/a-75544196\">Pahlavi has repeatedly called for the overthrow of Iran&#8217;s Islamic regime<\/a> \u2014 from his US home \u2014 and has often been mentioned as a <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/iran-government-post-war-scenarios\/a-76222133\">possible postwar Iranian leader<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"vjs-no-js\">To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that <a href=\"https:\/\/videojs.com\/html5-video-support\/\" target=\"_blank\">supports HTML5 video<\/a><\/p>\n<div data-tracking-skip=\"true\" data-tracking-name=\"rich-text\" class=\"post-rich-text c17j8gzx rc0m0op r1ebneao s198y7xq rich-text l1evdo4u blt0baw s16w0xvi rcjjkz7 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\">\n<p>The unpopularity of establishment political parties among German voters has translated into membership surges on the far left and far right of the country&#8217;s political spectrum.<\/p>\n<p>According to the German dpa news agency, the nation&#8217;s largest parties \u2014 <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/friedrich-merz\/t-60575802\">Friedrich Merz<\/a>&#8216;s Christian Democratic Union (<a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/christian-democratic-union-cdu\/t-17351950\">CDU<\/a>) and its Christian Social Union (<a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/christian-social-union-csu\/t-17439619\">CSU<\/a>) Bavarian sister party, as well as their Social Democratic Party (<a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/social-democratic-party-spd\/t-17437818\">SPD<\/a>) coalition partners \u2014\u00a0all saw few voters join their parties in 2025 and even saw membership dwindle.<\/p>\n<p>In contrast, new membership in the <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/left-party\/t-17439669\">Left Party<\/a> more than doubled over the year, jumping to 123,000 in December.<\/p>\n<p>The <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/far-right-populism-in-europe\/t-66108914\">far-right<\/a> Alternative for Germany (<a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/alternative-for-germany-afd\/t-17455253\">AfD<\/a>) also added to its membership rolls, with party treasurer Carsten H\u00fctter telling DPA that his party had 73,108 registered members on January 1, 2026 \u2014 a jump of about 43% for the year.<\/p>\n<p>The left-leaning <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/germanys-green-party\/t-17365878\">Greens<\/a> also saw an increase in membership, though theirs was not nearly as strong as the Left or AfD&#8217;s. The Greens have steadily attracted a growing membership over the past decade and year-on-year growth from 2024 to 2025 was no different. The party saw its ranks grow to 184,000 during that time, an 18.3% increase.<\/p>\n<p>Among coalition members, the CDU was the only party to expand its membership rolls, posting a 1.5% increase that brought total party membership to 132,000.<\/p>\n<p><a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/germany-far-right-afd-rises-in-the-polls\/a-72132087\">Satisfaction has been waning among German voters<\/a> for some time. In December, an INSA poll commissioned by the German tabloid <em>Bild <\/em>found that 63% of voters held an unfavorable view of the governing coalition and 62% said they were dissatisfied with the job Chancellor Merz is doing.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>The unpopularity of establishment political parties among German voters has translated into membership surges on the far left and far right of the country&#8217;s political spectrum.<\/p>\n<p>According to the German dpa news agency, the nation&#8217;s largest parties \u2014 <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/friedrich-merz\/t-60575802\">Friedrich Merz<\/a>&#8216;s Christian Democratic Union (<a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/christian-democratic-union-cdu\/t-17351950\">CDU<\/a>) and its Christian Social Union (<a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/christian-social-union-csu\/t-17439619\">CSU<\/a>) Bavarian sister party, as well as their Social Democratic Party (<a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/social-democratic-party-spd\/t-17437818\">SPD<\/a>) coalition partners \u2014\u00a0all saw few voters join their parties in 2025 and even saw membership dwindle.<\/p>\n<p>In contrast, new membership in the <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/left-party\/t-17439669\">Left Party<\/a> more than doubled over the year, jumping to 123,000 in December.<\/p>\n<p>The <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/far-right-populism-in-europe\/t-66108914\">far-right<\/a> Alternative for Germany (<a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/alternative-for-germany-afd\/t-17455253\">AfD<\/a>) also added to its membership rolls, with party treasurer Carsten H\u00fctter telling DPA that his party had 73,108 registered members on January 1, 2026 \u2014 a jump of about 43% for the year.<\/p>\n<p>The left-leaning <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/germanys-green-party\/t-17365878\">Greens<\/a> also saw an increase in membership, though theirs was not nearly as strong as the Left or AfD&#8217;s. The Greens have steadily attracted a growing membership over the past decade and year-on-year growth from 2024 to 2025 was no different. The party saw its ranks grow to 184,000 during that time, an 18.3% increase.<\/p>\n<p>Among coalition members, the CDU was the only party to expand its membership rolls, posting a 1.5% increase that brought total party membership to 132,000.<\/p>\n<p><a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/germany-far-right-afd-rises-in-the-polls\/a-72132087\">Satisfaction has been waning among German voters<\/a> for some time. In December, an INSA poll commissioned by the German tabloid <em>Bild <\/em>found that 63% of voters held an unfavorable view of the governing coalition and 62% said they were dissatisfied with the job Chancellor Merz is doing.<\/p>\n<div data-tracking-skip=\"true\" data-tracking-name=\"rich-text\" class=\"post-rich-text c17j8gzx rc0m0op r1ebneao s198y7xq rich-text l1evdo4u blt0baw s16w0xvi rcjjkz7 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\">\n<p>Altogether 640 passengers from the cruise ship Mein Schiff 4 arrived back in Germany from the Middle East on Saturday\u00a0on two evacuation flights chartered from Oman by the ship&#8217;s operator, TUI\u00a0Cruises, a company spokesman said.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;More than 2,000 guests from the Mein Schiff 4 are now back home,&#8221;\u00a0said the spokesman.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>He said that around 2,500 people were originally on board the ship.<\/p>\n<p>Return flights are also being organized for around the same number of\u00a0passengers on another company liner,\u00a0Mein Schiff 5,\u00a0also trapped in the region by the <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/us-israel-war-with-iran\/t-76168615\">Middle East war.<\/a><\/p>\n<p>He said it was not yet clear when those flights would take place.<\/p>\n<p>The company operates eight ships under the Mein Schiff (My Ship) brand.<\/p>\n<p><a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/iran-war-tens-of-thousands-of-german-travelers-stranded\/a-76183772\">Tour operators said on Tuesday that tens of thousands of travelers from Germany had been\u00a0stranded<\/a> after Israel and the US attacked Iran last Saturday, triggering an ever-widening Middle East conflict that has led both to airspace closures and shipping disruptions. Many of them have since returned.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>Altogether 640 passengers from the cruise ship Mein Schiff 4 arrived back in Germany from the Middle East on Saturday\u00a0on two evacuation flights chartered from Oman by the ship&#8217;s operator, TUI\u00a0Cruises, a company spokesman said.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;More than 2,000 guests from the Mein Schiff 4 are now back home,&#8221;\u00a0said the spokesman.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>He said that around 2,500 people were originally on board the ship.<\/p>\n<p>Return flights are also being organized for around the same number of\u00a0passengers on another company liner,\u00a0Mein Schiff 5,\u00a0also trapped in the region by the <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/us-israel-war-with-iran\/t-76168615\">Middle East war.<\/a><\/p>\n<p>He said it was not yet clear when those flights would take place.<\/p>\n<p>The company operates eight ships under the Mein Schiff (My Ship) brand.<\/p>\n<p><a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/iran-war-tens-of-thousands-of-german-travelers-stranded\/a-76183772\">Tour operators said on Tuesday that tens of thousands of travelers from Germany had been\u00a0stranded<\/a> after Israel and the US attacked Iran last Saturday, triggering an ever-widening Middle East conflict that has led both to airspace closures and shipping disruptions. Many of them have since returned.<\/p>\n<div data-tracking-skip=\"true\" data-tracking-name=\"rich-text\" class=\"post-rich-text c17j8gzx rc0m0op r1ebneao s198y7xq rich-text l1evdo4u blt0baw s16w0xvi rcjjkz7 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\">\n<p>The leader of the far-right <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/alternative-for-germany-afd\/t-17455253\">Alternative for Germany (AfD)<\/a> party, <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/alice-weidel\/t-60576421\">Alice Weidel<\/a>, has said she stands behind a <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/afd-youth-a-training-ground-for-germanys-far-right\/a-74934896\">new youth wing<\/a> of the party founded in <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/north-rhine-westphalia\/t-18943637\">North Rhine-Westphalia<\/a> (NRW) despite its classication by domestic intelligence on Friday as a &#8220;suspected case&#8221; of right-wing extremism.<\/p>\n<p>Weidel called the classification &#8220;another medal that we can pin to our lapel&#8221; in her remarks at the\u00a0conference of the NRW chapter of her party in the city of Marl.<\/p>\n<p>The NRW youth wing, named Generation Deutschland (Generation Germany),\u00a0was founded only in January, succeeding another party youth organization, Junge Alternative NRW, which was also under observation for extremist tendencies and officially disbanded in 2025.<\/p>\n<p>State domestic intelligence authories said on Friday that they see indications that Generation Deutschland has taken over many of the same members from the previous organization and is de facto a continuation of it under a different name.<\/p>\n<p>The classification as &#8220;suspected case&#8221; means that Generation Deutschland&#8217;s activities can be monitored by the domestic intelligence agency.<\/p>\n<p>The AfD has said it will fight back against the decision, calling it &#8220;indefensible and partisan.&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>The leader of the far-right <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/alternative-for-germany-afd\/t-17455253\">Alternative for Germany (AfD)<\/a> party, <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/alice-weidel\/t-60576421\">Alice Weidel<\/a>, has said she stands behind a <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/afd-youth-a-training-ground-for-germanys-far-right\/a-74934896\">new youth wing<\/a> of the party founded in <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/north-rhine-westphalia\/t-18943637\">North Rhine-Westphalia<\/a> (NRW) despite its classication by domestic intelligence on Friday as a &#8220;suspected case&#8221; of right-wing extremism.<\/p>\n<p>Weidel called the classification &#8220;another medal that we can pin to our lapel&#8221; in her remarks at the\u00a0conference of the NRW chapter of her party in the city of Marl.<\/p>\n<p>The NRW youth wing, named Generation Deutschland (Generation Germany),\u00a0was founded only in January, succeeding another party youth organization, Junge Alternative NRW, which was also under observation for extremist tendencies and officially disbanded in 2025.<\/p>\n<p>State domestic intelligence authories said on Friday that they see indications that Generation Deutschland has taken over many of the same members from the previous organization and is de facto a continuation of it under a different name.<\/p>\n<p>The classification as &#8220;suspected case&#8221; means that Generation Deutschland&#8217;s activities can be monitored by the domestic intelligence agency.<\/p>\n<p>The AfD has said it will fight back against the decision, calling it &#8220;indefensible and partisan.&#8221;<\/p>\n<div data-tracking-skip=\"true\" data-tracking-name=\"rich-text\" class=\"post-rich-text c17j8gzx rc0m0op r1ebneao s198y7xq rich-text l1evdo4u blt0baw s16w0xvi rcjjkz7 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\">\n<figure class=\"placeholder-image master_landscape big\"><img data-format=\"MASTER_LANDSCAPE\" data-id=\"76259068\" data-url=\"https:\/\/static.dw.com\/image\/76259068_${formatId}.jpg\" data-aspect-ratio=\"16\/9\" alt=\" Woman sit-skiing\"><figcaption class=\"img-caption\">Anna-Lena Forster won the women&#8217;s downhill sit-skiing<small class=\"copyright\">Image: Mikhail Tereshchenko\/ZUMA\/IMAGO<\/small><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Skier Anna-Lena Forster has claimed the first gold medal for Germany at the <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/paralympic-winter-games-what-you-need-to-know\/a-76228842\">Milan\/Cortina Winter Paralympics<\/a>, winning the\u00a0women&#8217;s para-alpine skiing downhill.<\/p>\n<p>It is the fifth Paralympic gold medal of the 30-year-old&#8217;s career, and her first in the downhill discipline.<\/p>\n<p>Germany&#8217;s Anja Wicker also won a bronze medal for her biathlon performance on what is the first day of the competition.\u00a0<br \/>\n\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>Skier Anna-Lena Forster has claimed the first gold medal for Germany at the <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/paralympic-winter-games-what-you-need-to-know\/a-76228842\">Milan\/Cortina Winter Paralympics<\/a>, winning the\u00a0women&#8217;s para-alpine skiing downhill.<\/p>\n<p>It is the fifth Paralympic gold medal of the 30-year-old&#8217;s career, and her first in the downhill discipline.<\/p>\n<p>Germany&#8217;s Anja Wicker also won a bronze medal for her biathlon performance on what is the first day of the competition.\u00a0<br \/>\n\u00a0<\/p>\n<div data-tracking-skip=\"true\" data-tracking-name=\"rich-text\" class=\"post-rich-text c17j8gzx rc0m0op r1ebneao s198y7xq rich-text l1evdo4u blt0baw s16w0xvi rcjjkz7 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\">\n<p>Voters in the southern German state of <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/bavaria\/t-18968282\">Bavaria<\/a> will be choosing mayors and city and district councillors in an election on Sunday, with more than 10 million people eligible to cast a ballot.<\/p>\n<p>Only women and men aged 18 and older will be able to vote, with Bavaria, Hessen, Rhineland-Palatinate, Saarland and Saxony the only of Germany&#8217;s 16 states to not allow 16-year-olds a ballot in local elections of this kind.<\/p>\n<p>Although the <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/christian-social-union-csu\/t-17439619\">Christian Social Union (CSU)<\/a> \u2014 the Bavarian sister party to the <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/christian-democratic-union-cdu\/t-17351950\">Christian Democrats (CDU)<\/a> of Chancellor <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/friedrich-merz\/t-60575802\">Friedrich Merz<\/a> \u2014 has by far the biggest chances of winning, it will be the result gained by\u00a0the\u00a0far-right\u00a0<a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/alternative-for-germany-afd\/t-17455253\">Alternative for Germany (AfD)<\/a> party that will draw most attention.<\/p>\n<p>In local elections six years ago, the party, which espouses a vehemently nationalistic, anti-immigration agenda, received only 4.7% of the vote, compared with 34.5% for the CSU and 17.5% for the <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/germanys-green-party\/t-17365878\">Green Party<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Now, however, a new survey from broadcaster Sat. 1 has\u00a0shown\u00a0that\u00a0the AfD, the strongest opposition force at the national level, could receive some 14% of the vote, making it the second-strongest party at the local level.<\/p>\n<p>The Greens, in contrast, having achieved a record vote in 2000, were at just 10% in the survey.<\/p>\n<p>The mayoral contest in the state capital of Munich is also likely to be followed with interest as Mayor Dieter Reiter of the Social Democrats (SPD) seeks a third term.<\/p>\n<p>Reiter, 67, remains the favourite to win, though some scandals, including his use of the N-word at a council meeting on Wednesday \u2014 which he said was in a quote from the late musician\u00a0Fredl Fesl \u2014\u00a0have clouded the last part of his campaign.<\/p>\n<p>Final results might be some days in coming owing to the complexities of the voting system.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<br \/>\n\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>Voters in the southern German state of <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/bavaria\/t-18968282\">Bavaria<\/a> will be choosing mayors and city and district councillors in an election on Sunday, with more than 10 million people eligible to cast a ballot.<\/p>\n<p>Only women and men aged 18 and older will be able to vote, with Bavaria, Hessen, Rhineland-Palatinate, Saarland and Saxony the only of Germany&#8217;s 16 states to not allow 16-year-olds a ballot in local elections of this kind.<\/p>\n<p>Although the <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/christian-social-union-csu\/t-17439619\">Christian Social Union (CSU)<\/a> \u2014 the Bavarian sister party to the <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/christian-democratic-union-cdu\/t-17351950\">Christian Democrats (CDU)<\/a> of Chancellor <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/friedrich-merz\/t-60575802\">Friedrich Merz<\/a> \u2014 has by far the biggest chances of winning, it will be the result gained by\u00a0the\u00a0far-right\u00a0<a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/alternative-for-germany-afd\/t-17455253\">Alternative for Germany (AfD)<\/a> party that will draw most attention.<\/p>\n<p>In local elections six years ago, the party, which espouses a vehemently nationalistic, anti-immigration agenda, received only 4.7% of the vote, compared with 34.5% for the CSU and 17.5% for the <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/germanys-green-party\/t-17365878\">Green Party<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Now, however, a new survey from broadcaster Sat. 1 has\u00a0shown\u00a0that\u00a0the AfD, the strongest opposition force at the national level, could receive some 14% of the vote, making it the second-strongest party at the local level.<\/p>\n<p>The Greens, in contrast, having achieved a record vote in 2000, were at just 10% in the survey.<\/p>\n<p>The mayoral contest in the state capital of Munich is also likely to be followed with interest as Mayor Dieter Reiter of the Social Democrats (SPD) seeks a third term.<\/p>\n<p>Reiter, 67, remains the favourite to win, though some scandals, including his use of the N-word at a council meeting on Wednesday \u2014 which he said was in a quote from the late musician\u00a0Fredl Fesl \u2014\u00a0have clouded the last part of his campaign.<\/p>\n<p>Final results might be some days in coming owing to the complexities of the voting system.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<br \/>\n\u00a0<\/p>\n<div data-tracking-skip=\"true\" data-tracking-name=\"rich-text\" class=\"post-rich-text c17j8gzx rc0m0op r1ebneao s198y7xq rich-text l1evdo4u blt0baw s16w0xvi rcjjkz7 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\">\n<figure class=\"placeholder-image master_landscape big\"><img data-format=\"MASTER_LANDSCAPE\" data-id=\"76212061\" data-url=\"https:\/\/static.dw.com\/image\/76212061_${formatId}.jpg\" data-aspect-ratio=\"16\/9\" alt=\"Friedrich Merz and Donald Trump in the Oval Office, Trump grinning at camera\"><figcaption class=\"img-caption\">Merz is widely seen as one of the few European leaders to have Trump&#8217;s respect<small class=\"copyright\">Image: Mark Schiefelbein\/AP Photo\/picture alliance<\/small><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>German Chancellor <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/friedrich-merz\/t-60575802\">Friedrich Merz<\/a> has defended his seemingly reticent\u00a0behavior toward US Donald Trump\u00a0during <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/trump-and-merz-discuss-iran-tariffs-and-ukraine\/live-76199914\">his visit to the White House in Washington this week,<\/a> where some hoped that the German leader <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/donald-trump-berates-spain-friedrich-merz-listens\/a-76214453\">would express\u00a0more criticism of certain of the US leader&#8217;s actions.<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&#8220;When the cameras are rolling, I&#8217;m not going to start arguing with the US president,&#8221; Merz said at a campaign rally in the town of Stockach during a campaign event ahead of Sunday&#8217;s state election in Baden-W\u00fcrttemberg.<\/p>\n<p>Merz explained that he continued to focus on shared values in his dealings with the US in view of the fact that Europe &#8220;will remain dependent on the Americans for the time being&#8221; when it comes to defense.<\/p>\n<p>Merz&#8217;s talks with Trump at the White House centered on the <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/us-israel-war-with-iran\/t-76168615\">war in Iran<\/a> and trade issues amid the <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/trump-tariffs\/t-71496505\">US president&#8217;s unpredictable tariff policy.<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>German Chancellor <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/friedrich-merz\/t-60575802\">Friedrich Merz<\/a> has defended his seemingly reticent\u00a0behavior toward US Donald Trump\u00a0during <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/trump-and-merz-discuss-iran-tariffs-and-ukraine\/live-76199914\">his visit to the White House in Washington this week,<\/a> where some hoped that the German leader <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/donald-trump-berates-spain-friedrich-merz-listens\/a-76214453\">would express\u00a0more criticism of certain of the US leader&#8217;s actions.<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&#8220;When the cameras are rolling, I&#8217;m not going to start arguing with the US president,&#8221; Merz said at a campaign rally in the town of Stockach during a campaign event ahead of Sunday&#8217;s state election in Baden-W\u00fcrttemberg.<\/p>\n<p>Merz explained that he continued to focus on shared values in his dealings with the US in view of the fact that Europe &#8220;will remain dependent on the Americans for the time being&#8221; when it comes to defense.<\/p>\n<p>Merz&#8217;s talks with Trump at the White House centered on the <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/us-israel-war-with-iran\/t-76168615\">war in Iran<\/a> and trade issues amid the <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/trump-tariffs\/t-71496505\">US president&#8217;s unpredictable tariff policy.<\/a><\/p>\n<div data-tracking-skip=\"true\" data-tracking-name=\"rich-text\" class=\"post-rich-text c17j8gzx rc0m0op r1ebneao s198y7xq rich-text l1evdo4u blt0baw s16w0xvi rcjjkz7 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\">\n<figure class=\"placeholder-image master_landscape big\"><img data-format=\"MASTER_LANDSCAPE\" data-id=\"76256915\" data-url=\"https:\/\/static.dw.com\/image\/76256915_${formatId}.jpg\" data-aspect-ratio=\"16\/9\" alt=\" Angela Merkel, woman speaking at lectern with coat of arms\"><figcaption class=\"img-caption\">Merkel became, mostly affectionately, known as &#8216;Mutti&#8217; (Mommy) during her tenure as chancellor<small class=\"copyright\">Image: Fernando Soares\/HMB Media\/picture alliance<\/small><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/angela-merkel\/t-17280098\">Angela Merkel<\/a>, who was Germany&#8217;s leader from 2005 to 2021, has called on European countries to demonstrate a unified front amid the current array of global crises and war.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Europe must take its destiny into its own hands more than ever,&#8221; the conservative politician told some 400 guests\u00a0at the annual St. Matthew&#8217;s\u00a0Day Banquet in Hamburg City Hall.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0&#8220;This goes far beyond the aspect of security for me,&#8221; she said, saying that a united Europe would mean one that stood up for democracy, the rule of law, human dignity, prosperity and jobs, while protecting external borders and cultural identity.<\/p>\n<p>She also urged the EU to work toward becoming more independent in the digital sector.<\/p>\n<p><a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/merkel-recalls-childhood-putin-and-trump-in-new-memoir\/a-70840829\">Merkel<\/a> also said she wanted the EU to support <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/russias-war-in-ukraine\/t-60931789\">Ukraine in its fight against the Russian invasion<\/a> both militarily and diplomatically.<\/p>\n<p>The EU should\u00a0&#8220;act both as a military supporter of Ukraine against the aggressor Russia \u2014\u00a0this is important and indispensable \u2014\u00a0but also to bring its diplomatic strength to bear in ending this war of aggression.&#8221;<br \/>\n\u00a0\u00a0<br \/>\n&#8220;This is about Europe&#8217;s vital interests,&#8221; she said, adding that both military and diplomatic efforts were needed so &#8220;that Russia does not win the war and thus Ukraine has a future as a sovereign state in peace and freedom.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>The St. Matthew&#8217;s Day Banquet (German:\u00a0Matthiae-Mahl) is the world&#8217;s oldest banquet still to be celebrated, the city of Hamburg said.<\/p>\n<p>The day was considered the start of the business year in the Middle Ages.<br \/>\n\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/angela-merkel\/t-17280098\">Angela Merkel<\/a>, who was Germany&#8217;s leader from 2005 to 2021, has called on European countries to demonstrate a unified front amid the current array of global crises and war.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Europe must take its destiny into its own hands more than ever,&#8221; the conservative politician told some 400 guests\u00a0at the annual St. Matthew&#8217;s\u00a0Day Banquet in Hamburg City Hall.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0&#8220;This goes far beyond the aspect of security for me,&#8221; she said, saying that a united Europe would mean one that stood up for democracy, the rule of law, human dignity, prosperity and jobs, while protecting external borders and cultural identity.<\/p>\n<p>She also urged the EU to work toward becoming more independent in the digital sector.<\/p>\n<p><a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/merkel-recalls-childhood-putin-and-trump-in-new-memoir\/a-70840829\">Merkel<\/a> also said she wanted the EU to support <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/russias-war-in-ukraine\/t-60931789\">Ukraine in its fight against the Russian invasion<\/a> both militarily and diplomatically.<\/p>\n<p>The EU should\u00a0&#8220;act both as a military supporter of Ukraine against the aggressor Russia \u2014\u00a0this is important and indispensable \u2014\u00a0but also to bring its diplomatic strength to bear in ending this war of aggression.&#8221;<br \/>\n\u00a0\u00a0<br \/>\n&#8220;This is about Europe&#8217;s vital interests,&#8221; she said, adding that both military and diplomatic efforts were needed so &#8220;that Russia does not win the war and thus Ukraine has a future as a sovereign state in peace and freedom.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>The St. Matthew&#8217;s Day Banquet (German:\u00a0Matthiae-Mahl) is the world&#8217;s oldest banquet still to be celebrated, the city of Hamburg said.<\/p>\n<p>The day was considered the start of the business year in the Middle Ages.<br \/>\n\u00a0<\/p>\n<div data-tracking-skip=\"true\" data-tracking-name=\"rich-text\" class=\"post-rich-text c17j8gzx rc0m0op r1ebneao s198y7xq rich-text l1evdo4u blt0baw s16w0xvi rcjjkz7 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\">\n<p>More than a quarter of households in Germany have no money set aside, despite a record growth in the overall wealth of private households, a new survey has shown.<\/p>\n<p>Some 27% of 1,007 respondents in a survey conducted by polling institute Ipsos for ING bank said they had no financial cushion to fall back on, with half of those saying they did not earn enough to save anything.<\/p>\n<p>Around one in five of them (22%) attributed their lack of savings to rising living costs.<\/p>\n<p>A similar number (17.9%) said they had trouble sleeping because of financial worries, while more than a third (36.5%) said they agreed with the statement,\u00a0&#8220;Because of my financial situation, I feel that I will never have the things in life that I want.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>The result highlights the unequal distribution of wealth in Germany, where, according the central bank, the <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/bundesbank\/t-17437697\">Bundesbank<\/a>, around half is held by the richest 10% of households \u2014\u00a0roughly 4 million households \u2014\u00a0while about 20 million households hold just 8% of total financial wealth.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>More than a quarter of households in Germany have no money set aside, despite a record growth in the overall wealth of private households, a new survey has shown.<\/p>\n<p>Some 27% of 1,007 respondents in a survey conducted by polling institute Ipsos for ING bank said they had no financial cushion to fall back on, with half of those saying they did not earn enough to save anything.<\/p>\n<p>Around one in five of them (22%) attributed their lack of savings to rising living costs.<\/p>\n<p>A similar number (17.9%) said they had trouble sleeping because of financial worries, while more than a third (36.5%) said they agreed with the statement,\u00a0&#8220;Because of my financial situation, I feel that I will never have the things in life that I want.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>The result highlights the unequal distribution of wealth in Germany, where, according the central bank, the <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/bundesbank\/t-17437697\">Bundesbank<\/a>, around half is held by the richest 10% of households \u2014\u00a0roughly 4 million households \u2014\u00a0while about 20 million households hold just 8% of total financial wealth.<\/p>\n<div data-tracking-skip=\"true\" data-tracking-name=\"rich-text\" class=\"post-rich-text c17j8gzx rc0m0op r1ebneao s198y7xq rich-text l1evdo4u blt0baw s16w0xvi rcjjkz7 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\">\n<p>Sunday&#8217;s election in Baden-W\u00fcrttemberg is the first of five state elections scheduled for this year.<\/p>\n<p>Chancellor Friedrich Merz will be hoping that the result gives him the support he needs to push through reforms.<\/p>\n<p>You can read more about the issues at stake in the election on one of Germany&#8217;s wealthiest states here:\u00a0<a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/german-state-election-set-to-have-far-reaching-consequences\/a-76188172\">German state election set to have far-reaching consequences<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>Sunday&#8217;s election in Baden-W\u00fcrttemberg is the first of five state elections scheduled for this year.<\/p>\n<p>Chancellor Friedrich Merz will be hoping that the result gives him the support he needs to push through reforms.<\/p>\n<p>You can read more about the issues at stake in the election on one of Germany&#8217;s wealthiest states here:\u00a0<a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/german-state-election-set-to-have-far-reaching-consequences\/a-76188172\">German state election set to have far-reaching consequences<\/a><\/p>\n<div data-tracking-skip=\"true\" data-tracking-name=\"rich-text\" class=\"post-rich-text c17j8gzx rc0m0op r1ebneao s198y7xq rich-text l1evdo4u blt0baw s16w0xvi rcjjkz7 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\">\n<p>Chancellor <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/friedrich-merz\/t-60575802\">Friedrich Merz<\/a> will doubtless watch Sunday&#8217;s election in the southwestern state of <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/baden-w%C3%BCrttemberg\/t-18962334\">Baden-W\u00fcrttemberg<\/a> with some anxiety after the latest polls showed his conservative <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/christian-democratic-union-cdu\/t-17351950\">Christian Democrats (CDU)<\/a> losing their\u00a0monthslong lead.<\/p>\n<p>If the <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/germanys-green-party\/t-17365878\">Green Party,<\/a> which has drawn level with the CDU in surveys,\u00a0were to attain an unexpected third consecutive victory in the state, it would be seen as somewhat of an\u00a0indictment for the German leader after 10 months in office.<\/p>\n<p>The election seems nonetheless likely to confirm the state&#8217;s current Green-CDU coalition government.<\/p>\n<p>The Greens, with their lead candidate, former Agriculture Minister\u00a0<a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/cem-%C3%B6zdemir\/t-68196315\">Cem \u00d6zdemir<\/a>, were polling at 28% on Thursday to match the CDU, whose candidate, Manuel Hagel, has seen his support fade amid an uproar <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/german-state-election-set-to-have-far-reaching-consequences\/a-76188172\">over controversial comments he made about schoolgirls eight years ago.<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u00d6zdemir is the favourite to take over the post of state premier from his party colleague Winfried Kretschmann, who has led the state since 2011, at first in a coalition with the Social Democrats (SPD), and then with the CDU since 2016.<\/p>\n<p>Kretschmann, 77, who enjoys wide personal popularity across the political spectrum, will not be standing as candidate this time round.<\/p>\n<p>On Friday, Merz made an appearance in the city of Ravensburg as campaigning drew to a close, stressing the importance of the election while conceding that it will be &#8220;closer than we thought.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Baden-W\u00fcrttemberg is one of the most prosperous states in Germany and a stronghold of the country&#8217;s crucial carmaking industry.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>Chancellor <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/friedrich-merz\/t-60575802\">Friedrich Merz<\/a> will doubtless watch Sunday&#8217;s election in the southwestern state of <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/baden-w%C3%BCrttemberg\/t-18962334\">Baden-W\u00fcrttemberg<\/a> with some anxiety after the latest polls showed his conservative <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/christian-democratic-union-cdu\/t-17351950\">Christian Democrats (CDU)<\/a> losing their\u00a0monthslong lead.<\/p>\n<p>If the <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/germanys-green-party\/t-17365878\">Green Party,<\/a> which has drawn level with the CDU in surveys,\u00a0were to attain an unexpected third consecutive victory in the state, it would be seen as somewhat of an\u00a0indictment for the German leader after 10 months in office.<\/p>\n<p>The election seems nonetheless likely to confirm the state&#8217;s current Green-CDU coalition government.<\/p>\n<p>The Greens, with their lead candidate, former Agriculture Minister\u00a0<a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/cem-%C3%B6zdemir\/t-68196315\">Cem \u00d6zdemir<\/a>, were polling at 28% on Thursday to match the CDU, whose candidate, Manuel Hagel, has seen his support fade amid an uproar <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/german-state-election-set-to-have-far-reaching-consequences\/a-76188172\">over controversial comments he made about schoolgirls eight years ago.<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u00d6zdemir is the favourite to take over the post of state premier from his party colleague Winfried Kretschmann, who has led the state since 2011, at first in a coalition with the Social Democrats (SPD), and then with the CDU since 2016.<\/p>\n<p>Kretschmann, 77, who enjoys wide personal popularity across the political spectrum, will not be standing as candidate this time round.<\/p>\n<p>On Friday, Merz made an appearance in the city of Ravensburg as campaigning drew to a close, stressing the importance of the election while conceding that it will be &#8220;closer than we thought.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Baden-W\u00fcrttemberg is one of the most prosperous states in Germany and a stronghold of the country&#8217;s crucial carmaking industry.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<div data-tracking-skip=\"true\" data-tracking-name=\"rich-text\" class=\"post-rich-text c17j8gzx rc0m0op r1ebneao s198y7xq rich-text l1evdo4u blt0baw s16w0xvi rcjjkz7 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\">\n<p><em>Guten Tag\u00a0<\/em>from the DW newsroom on the banks of the Rhine in Bonn!<\/p>\n<p>You join us as Germany is set to kick off a year of multiple regional\u00a0elections on Sunday, with voters to go to the polls in <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/baden-w%C3%BCrttemberg\/t-18962334\">Baden-W\u00fcrttemberg<\/a>, one of the country&#8217;s biggest and wealthiest states.<\/p>\n<p>The election seems likely to confirm the state&#8217;s present coalition of conservative Christian Democrats and Greens, with surveys suggesting that Green candidate Cem \u00d6zdemir might have the edge over his CDU rival,\u00a0Manuel Hagel, when it comes to choosing the state&#8217;s premier.<\/p>\n<p>The elections will be seen both as a test of CDU Chancellor <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/friedrich-merz\/t-60575802\">Friedrich Merz<\/a>&#8216;s popularity after 10 months in office and a gauge of the strength of the far-right AfD party.<\/p>\n<p>This comes as many in Germany say that they have no financial cushion to fall back on, either because they earn too little to save or because the rising cost of living is having an impact.<\/p>\n<p>We invite you to read more about these and other stories from and about Europe&#8217;s biggest economy on Saturday, March 7.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><em>Guten Tag\u00a0<\/em>from the DW newsroom on the banks of the Rhine in Bonn!<\/p>\n<p>You join us as Germany is set to kick off a year of multiple regional\u00a0elections on Sunday, with voters to go to the polls in <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/baden-w%C3%BCrttemberg\/t-18962334\">Baden-W\u00fcrttemberg<\/a>, one of the country&#8217;s biggest and wealthiest states.<\/p>\n<p>The election seems likely to confirm the state&#8217;s present coalition of conservative Christian Democrats and Greens, with surveys suggesting that Green candidate Cem \u00d6zdemir might have the edge over his CDU rival,\u00a0Manuel Hagel, when it comes to choosing the state&#8217;s premier.<\/p>\n<p>The elections will be seen both as a test of CDU Chancellor <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/friedrich-merz\/t-60575802\">Friedrich Merz<\/a>&#8216;s popularity after 10 months in office and a gauge of the strength of the far-right AfD party.<\/p>\n<p>This comes as many in Germany say that they have no financial cushion to fall back on, either because they earn too little to save or because the rising cost of living is having an impact.<\/p>\n<p>We invite you to read more about these and other stories from and about Europe&#8217;s biggest economy on Saturday, March 7.<\/p>\n<p>[analyse_source url=&#8221;https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/germany-news-state-election-set-to-test-merzs-popularity\/live-76257633&#8243;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/static.dw.com\/image\/76257904_6.jpg&#8221;] https:\/\/p.dw.com\/p\/59y5p The election in Baden-W\u00fcrttemberg takes place on SundayImage: Arnulf Hettrich\/imageBROKER\/picture alliance Skip next section What you need to know What you need to know The first of five state elections this year is being seen as a barometer of Chancellor Friedrich Merz&#8217;s popularity A survey shows that many people in Germany [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[226,74],"class_list":["post-1814027","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-politics","tag-crawlmanager","tag-dw-com"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1814027","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1814027"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1814027\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1814027"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1814027"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1814027"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}