Germany news: Merkel tells voters to 'stand up' for democracy
Former German Chancellor Merkel has weighed in on elections in Saxony-Anhalt, where the far-right AfD leads the polls. Meanwhile, German firms paid out a record sum to employees on sick leave last year. DW has more.
Former German Chancellor Angela Merkel has urged Germans to defend democracy before the upcoming state election in Saxony-Anhalt. The far-right Alternative for Germany party (AfD) is currently leading the polls, raising concerns about the potential government formation. Despite this, the majority of Germans are not AfD supporters.
Merkel emphasized the need to stand up for democracy and confidently assert that it is a desirable way of life. She noted that the AfD has dominated discussions about politics in Saxony-Anhalt, leaving voters unaware of the policies of other parties. Merkel also pointed out that the rise of the AfD is a nationwide issue, not limited to specific regions.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz's government plans to hold Russia accountable for the Leipzig drone incident, with sanctions likely to be imposed. Over the past 15 years, wages paid to employees on sick and maternity leave in Germany have more than doubled, reaching €85.6 billion in 2020. Factors contributing to this increase include wage hikes, inflation, and a rise in recorded sick leave, particularly since the switch to electronic medical certificates in 2022.
Chancellery spokesperson Steffi Georgsson stated that Merz was working on a turnaround plan for Volkswagen, with the supervisory board set to meet on September 4 to discuss the strategy.
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