Кто поможет пенсионерам/Почему беженцы бегут домой/Транспорт встанет/Новости Германии

Summary

Germany has been engulfed by widespread protests against the AfD and far-right extremism, with nearly half a million people participating in over 100 demonstrations across various cities. These events, driven by a report revealing AfD members' meetings with neo-Nazis, have mobilized German politicians, church leaders, and Bundesliga football managers to call for action against right-wing extremism. Additionally, the country faces challenges including a planned six-day railway strike by the GDL union, discussions on military recruitment of non-German citizens to address personnel shortages, and a pilot project to issue asylum seekers payment cards instead of cash to encourage integration. Amidst these developments, concerns about pensioners' poverty and potential inflation impacts have sparked debate over the need for increased social support and pension adjustments.

Takeaways

• 🚨 Germany experienced massive protests with at least 100 events from Friday to Sunday, drawing nearly half a million people against the AfD and right-wing extremism.
• 🏆 German politicians, church leaders, and Bundesliga football managers urged the public to stand against right-wing organizations.
• 📈 In Munich, the influx of demonstrators was so large that organizers had to cancel a planned march for safety reasons, with local police reporting around 100,000 participants.
• 🛣️ Other German cities like Cologne and Bremen also saw large protests, with approximately 70,000 in Cologne and 45,000 in Bremen according to organizers and police.
• 📰 A report published by investigative outlet Correctiv on January 10th sparked the protests, revealing meetings between AfD members and neo-Nazis to discuss, among other things, deportations.
• 🚲 The German Chancellor bravely joined the protests, unlike his avoidance of farmer strikes, indicating the seriousness of the situation.
• 🔴 Support for the AfD party has risen in recent months, especially in eastern Germany, ahead of significant regional elections.
• 🚂 The German railway workers' union GDL announced a six-day strike starting on January 24th, due to failed wage negotiations with Deutsche Bahn, marking another significant protest action.
• 👮 Germany's Defense Minister Boris Pistorius is considering recruiting non-German citizens into the military, reflecting a broader European trend and addressing the shortage of service members.
• 💰 A pilot project in Thuringia tests providing asylum seekers with social assistance through payment cards instead of cash, aiming to encourage integration and responsible use of funds.

Q & A

What caused the mass protests in Germany?

The wave of mass protests in Germany was triggered by a report published on January 10th by the investigative publication Correctiv, which revealed that members of the AfD (Alternative for Germany) party and Christian Democratic Union were meeting with neo-Nazis to discuss, among other things, the deportation of non-assimilated immigrants.

How many people participated in the protests across Germany?

Almost half a million people participated in the protests across different cities in Germany.

What was the public's reaction in Munich to the planned protest march?

In Munich, the influx of demonstrators was so huge that the organizers were forced to cancel the planned march and asked people to disperse for safety reasons.

What is the stance of German politicians and other public figures on the far-right movements?

German politicians, church leaders, and Bundesliga football managers called on the country's population to stand against far-right organizations.

How did the German Chancellor respond to the protests?

The German Chancellor did not shy away from the protests and made an appearance, unlike during the farmers' strikes, from which he noticeably kept his distance.

What is the significance of the upcoming regional elections in eastern Germany for the AfD party?

The regional elections in eastern Germany are significant for the AfD party as surveys indicate a rise in the party's support in these regions, where it has a substantial number of supporters.

What led to the announcement of a new six-day strike by the German Train Drivers' Union (GDL)?

The GDL announced a new six-day strike due to suspended tariff negotiations with Deutsche Bahn and the failure of negotiations, particularly over the disagreement on reducing the working week from 38 to 35 hours while maintaining full pay.

What proposal did the German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius consider to address the shortage of military personnel?

German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius considered the idea of recruiting individuals without German citizenship into the military service, noting that other European armed forces have adopted similar approaches.

What changes to asylum seekers' social benefits are being tested in Germany?

Germany is testing a pilot project where asylum seekers receive part of their social benefits on a payment card instead of cash, restricting purchases to local shops and prohibiting ATM withdrawals and transfers.

How does the financial situation of German pensioners relate to inflation?

About 42% of pensioners in Germany have a net monthly income of less than 150 euros, and around 25% receive less than 1,000 euros per month, highlighting the issue of pensioners being significantly affected by inflation.