About: SPD
What Germany’s likely coalition has in store for digitalisation
Germany's Social Democrats (SPD), the business-friendly FDP and the Greens, who are soon to hold coalition talks, have pointed to digitalisation as one of the top priorities in a preliminary coalition agreement. EURACTIV Germany reports.
Germany’s likely new coalition wants more EU sovereignty, fossil car ban
Leaders of Germany's Social Democrats (SPD), the Greens, and the business-friendly FDP have reached a preliminary agreement including plans to end the internal combustion engine and take an assertive stance on the rule of law in the EU.
German SPD’s Scholz moves closer to succeeding Merkel as chancellor
German centre-left Social Democrat's (SPD) Olaf Scholz, took a major step towards succeeding Angela Merkel as chancellor on Friday (15 October), announcing that he and the leaders of two smaller parties aimed to move into formal coalition talks.
Intellectuals urge Germany to keep nuclear plants online
“Dear Germany, please keep your nuclear reactors online,” 25 leading foreign and domestic writers, journalists, and intellectuals wrote in a joint letter, warning that dropping nuclear power would only increase Germany's carbon emissions.
Germany’s SPD pushes for inclusion of gas in EU green finance taxonomy
The role of gas in the energy transition should be reflected in the EU’s green finance taxonomy, according to the economy and energy spokesperson of Germany's social democratic SPD party, which is expected to lead the next German government coalition.
Bullmann: SPD electorate rejects coalition with conservatives
The electorate of Germany's Social Democrats (SPD) rejects potential collaboration with Christian Democrats (CDU-CSU) and prefers a progressive government looking at the future rather than a return to the austerity-driven past, EU lawmaker and senior SPD official Udo Bullmann told EURACTIV in an interview in Berln.
Greens and Liberals hold key to form next German government
Following Sunday's federal election, the most likely outcome for the new German Bundestag is one of two coalitions: a Social Democrat-led 'traffic light'-coalition or a Conservative-led 'Jamaica'-coalition. Both camps will now try to win over kingmakers, the Greens and Liberals, to secure a stable majority.
Parties start election poker in Germany as SPD clinches narrow win
Germany's Social Democrats clinched a narrow victory over Chancellor Angela Merkel's Conservatives in Sunday's federal election, but leaders of both parties quickly claimed their right to try to build a coalition government.
Scholz seen as winner from Germany’s second TV election debate
Conservative candidate Armin Laschet, from the ruling CDU/CSU coalition, sought to make up for lost ground in opinion polls by attacking his socialist rival Olaf Scholz during Germany’s second televised election debate.
Coal exit debate haunts German parties ahead of election
With the German elections less than a month away, the country’s agreed 2038 coal exit looks increasingly untenable. Yet, with voters increasingly concerned about the climate, leaders' past policy choices are coming back to haunt them.
Merkel’s CDU suffers record defeats in regional elections
Germany’s Christian Democrats (CDU) suffered record defeats in two regional elections on Sunday (14 March) amid voter anger over a sluggish coronavirus vaccine roll-out and a party corruption scandal that has left Chancellor Angela Merkel’s party reeling as it decides...
SPD enters election campaign focusing on the future, climate issues
Germany's Social Democrats (SPD) want to be seen as the party of the future. That is the core message of the resolution following last weekend's party retreat. But the SPD's proverbial red thread - on social issues - is missing. EURACTIV Germany reports.
OECD criticises German frugality, urges it to ‘clear the investment backlog’
Germany needs to invest more in infrastructure, digital policy, climate protection after years of government frugality, a study by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) recommends. EURACTIV Germany reports.
5G expansion: German foreign ministry gets a say, but no veto
Germany's upcoming IT security law is intended to protect the country's 5G network, among other things. When it comes to Huawei, the Foreign Office fought for a right of veto. The result: now it can have a say but not singlehandedly block a supplier. EURACTIV Germany reports.
German SPD demands asylum centres, carbon border tax in new position paper
The parliamentary group of the German Social Democrats (SPD) is expected to adopt a position paper on EU policy on Tuesday (27 October). In it, the MPs call for open asylum centres throughout Europe, a CO2 border tax to raise the EU's own resources, and more leeway for state resources in digitalisation. EURACTIV Germany reports.
German police study will focus on ‘daily work’ instead of structural racism
After public pressure and national debate, a study of German police forces is on the way. The Social Democrat's (SPD) proposal to specifically investigate racism within the German authorities will only be one of many topics, as the study will instead be focusing on the 'daily work' of officers. EURACTIV Germany reports.
German copyright bill includes upload filters, despite government’s promises
As Germany gears up to transpose the European Copyright Directive into national law by the summer of 2021, the new draft tabled by Justice Minister Christine's Lambrecht (SPD) provides for upload filters, although the government promised to do without them. EURACTIV Germany reports.
Bundestag’s investigative committee starts work on Wirecard scandal
The Bundestag's committee looking into the Wirecard case, Germany's biggest financial scandal in years, started work on Thursday (8 October). It could be particularly unpleasant for Finance Minister and SPD chancellor candidate Olaf Scholz. EURACTIV Germany reports.
Financial scandals harm Scholz’s image as he gears up for chancellor candidacy
Olaf Scholz, Germany's finance minister and chancellor candidate for the Social Democrats (SPD), is currently in the spotlight for his involvement in two financial scandals currently shaking German politics: the Wirecard and Cum-Ex scandals. EURACTIV Germany reports.
German Social Democrats gear up for a climate election campaign
Finance Minister Olaf Scholz will lead the German Social Democrats (SPD) into the campaign for federal elections in 2021. Not an easy task for a party that faces strong competition from the Greens for number two position, behind the CDU/CSU conservatives. EURACTIV Germany reports.
German labour minister announces stricter standards in the meat industry
The German meat industry has been under fire for years over its low working standards and workers rights. The coronavirus clusters in slaughterhouses have now offered the government an opportunity to intervene. EURACTIV Germany reports.
German data protection commissioner criticises government agencies, legislative procedures
Ulrich Kelber (SPD) rarely shies away from criticising his own government in his role as Commissioner for Data Protection and Freedom of Information (BfDI). During the presentation of his annual reports, he pointed out hasty procedures where data protection is at risk. EURACTIV Germany reports.
German finance minister defends borrowing for economic stimulus package
For once, Germany is not shying away from debt to overcome a crisis. With the second supplementary budget, the state's additional borrowing due to the coronavirus is raised to a total of €218.5 billion. But criticism is coming from the German Taxpayers' Federation. EURACTIV Germany reports.