Latest news with #Forsa
Reuters
5 hours ago
- Politics
- Reuters
Germany's Merz slips behind far right in poll after angering friends and foes
BERLIN, Aug 12 (Reuters) - Chancellor Friedrich Merz's conservatives slipped into second place behind Germany's far right in a poll marking his hundredth day in office after a tough summer in which a botched judicial appointment and a reversal on supplying Israel with arms alienated foes and allies alike. The Forsa poll, which put the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) on 26%, two points higher than the conservatives, comes ahead of a political season that will be dominated by tough decisions on revitalising a flagging economy and allocating painful spending cuts. Merz's decision last week to suspend arms shipments to Israel after it announced plans to fully occupy Gaza was popular among voters but angered conservative allies who saw it as a betrayal of Germany's historical obligations. Merz's two-way coalition with the Social Democrats has scored some big wins: Even before taking office it managed to break with a long tradition of fiscal tight-fistedness by passing an almost trillion-euro debt package to boost the economy and finance support for Ukraine. The chancellor has cut a more assured figure on the international stage than his Social Democrat predecessor Olaf Scholz, playing a central role in efforts to rally European countries to form a united front in defence of Ukraine as U.S. President Donald Trump wavers in his support. In domestic policy, Merz's government has been vocal about its desire to reduce immigration, planning cuts to benefits available to Ukrainian war refugees, for example. "The far right is now ahead of the conservatives thanks to their migration and economic policies," left-wing activist Christoph Bautz wrote on social media. "Now would be a good time for the government to drop their course of culture war and conceding ground to the far right." It is not the first time the AfD have been ahead of the conservatives in the polls, having also come out top in Forsa's poll in April. Germany's next big electoral test is a regional vote in the south-western state of Baden-Wuerttemberg in March 2026, the first of five of Germany's 16 states to go to the polls next year. Even though Merz took office promising to hew closer to doctrinaire conservative instincts than Angela Merkel, Germany's last centre-right chancellor, the debt move was the first of many to sow doubts in the minds of right-wing backers. Just 29% of respondents to a weekend DeutschlandTrend poll for ARD television thought him a good crisis manager. His personal popularity was measured at 32%, well behind Scholz or Merkel on their 100th day, when they scored 56% and 74% respectively. While Merz's moves on debt and arming Israel were a bitter pill for many conservative allies, his ideological opponents were angered when he failed to deliver the votes to appoint the Social Democrats' candidate for a constitutional court judgeship. Law professor Frauke Brosius-Gersdorf, who last week withdrew her name from consideration after a lengthy campaign in right-wing news websites had portrayed her as dangerously radical in her support for abortion rights. Merz faced criticism for first agreeing to back her candidacy and then changing his mind when it turned out he was unable to persuade enough of his own legislators to back her. The Social Democrats were on 13% in the latest Forsa poll, down three points from their score in February's election, while the number of undecideds was at a seven-month high. Another poll by Insa for Bild still had the conservatives in the lead.
Straits Times
6 hours ago
- Politics
- Straits Times
Germany's Merz slips behind far right in poll after angering friends and foes
BERLIN - Chancellor Friedrich Merz's conservatives slipped into second place behind Germany's far right in a poll marking his hundredth day in office after a tough summer in which a botched judicial appointment and a reversal on supplying Israel with arms alienated foes and allies alike. The Forsa poll, which put the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) on 26%, two points higher than the conservatives, comes ahead of a political season that will be dominated by tough decisions on revitalising a flagging economy and allocating painful spending cuts. Merz's decision last week to suspend arms shipments to Israel after it announced plans to fully occupy Gaza was popular among voters but angered conservative allies who saw it as a betrayal of Germany's historical obligations. Merz's two-way coalition with the Social Democrats has scored some big wins: Even before taking office it managed to break with a long tradition of fiscal tight-fistedness by passing an almost trillion-euro debt package to boost the economy and finance support for Ukraine. The chancellor has cut a more assured figure on the international stage than his Social Democrat predecessor Olaf Scholz, playing a central role in efforts to rally European countries to form a united front in defence of Ukraine as U.S. President Donald Trump wavers in his support. In domestic policy, Merz's government has been vocal about its desire to reduce immigration, planning cuts to benefits available to Ukrainian war refugees, for example. "The far right is now ahead of the conservatives thanks to their migration and economic policies," left-wing activist Christoph Bautz wrote on social media. "Now would be a good time for the government to drop their course of culture war and conceding ground to the far right." It is not the first time the AfD have been ahead of the conservatives in the polls, having also come out top in Forsa's poll in April. Germany's next big electoral test is a regional vote in the south-western state of Baden-Wuerttemberg in March 2026, the first of five of Germany's 16 states to go to the polls next year. Even though Merz took office promising to hew closer to doctrinaire conservative instincts than Angela Merkel, Germany's last centre-right chancellor, the debt move was the first of many to sow doubts in the minds of right-wing backers. Just 29% of respondents to a weekend DeutschlandTrend poll for ARD television thought him a good crisis manager. His personal popularity was measured at 32%, well behind Scholz or Merkel on their 100th day, when they scored 56% and 74% respectively. While Merz's moves on debt and arming Israel were a bitter pill for many conservative allies, his ideological opponents were angered when he failed to deliver the votes to appoint the Social Democrats' candidate for a constitutional court judgeship. Law professor Frauke Brosius-Gersdorf, who last week withdrew her name from consideration after a lengthy campaign in right-wing news websites had portrayed her as dangerously radical in her support for abortion rights. Merz faced criticism for first agreeing to back her candidacy and then changing his mind when it turned out he was unable to persuade enough of his own legislators to back her. The Social Democrats were on 13% in the latest Forsa poll, down three points from their score in February's election, while the number of undecideds was at a seven-month high. Another poll by Insa for Bild still had the conservatives in the lead. REUTERS
Morocco World
2 days ago
- Business
- Morocco World
Morocco's Forsa Program Faces Criticism Over Implementation Issues
Rabat — Morocco's Forsa entrepreneurship program, launched in 2022 with a budget exceeding MAD 1.25 billion ($138.278 million), faces growing criticism over structural problems affecting young entrepreneurs. The government launched the program to support business creation through interest-free loans, but implementation challenges have sparked widespread complaints from beneficiaries and oversight institutions. Morocco's Ombudsman Hassan Tarik reported receiving 500 complaints about the program, citing unexplained exclusions and complex procedures that have frustrated many applicants. The Ombudsman's office identified several concerning patterns, including the classification of beneficiaries as entrepreneurs without providing them with corresponding financial support. These findings have raised questions about the program's effectiveness in achieving its stated goals of supporting youth entrepreneurship. Beyond administrative issues, beneficiaries have raised concerns about the program's fundamental structure. Local media have reported that Radwan Ashuhham of the Moroccan Association for Young Entrepreneurs' Rights, which represents hundreds of affected young people, explained that the loan-based approach creates significant challenges. The association has also reportedly documented how external factors have compounded these difficulties. Climate-related challenges have particularly affected agricultural projects, with extreme temperatures and frost causing livestock stress and deaths. Meanwhile, industrial and commercial ventures have faced insufficient funding coverage, hampering their ability to expand and grow as intended. These mounting concerns have reached Morocco's Parliament, where lawmakers have reportedly expressed frustration with implementation delays and administrative complications affecting thousands of applicants. In response, Parliament formed a fact-finding mission to conduct a comprehensive evaluation of the program and examine the various problems that have emerged since its launch. Despite the criticism, government officials maintain that the government program has achieved significant results. Minister Fatim-Zahra Ammor reported that Forsa has funded approximately 21,000 projects, creating nearly 37,000 jobs, with 44% held by women. The program received over 300,000 projects across two years, with about 10,000 projects funded in the first phase and 11,200 in the second. These statistics suggest strong demand for entrepreneurship support, even as implementation challenges persist. In response to the various criticisms, the entrepreneurs' association has proposed several reforms to address the program's shortcomings. Their recommendations include integrating beneficiary projects into existing support programs for cooperatives and companies, rescheduling loans based on individual project situations, and providing exemptions for projects that have declared bankruptcy. They have also called for better support systems to help entrepreneurs navigate the challenges of starting and maintaining their businesses. Looking back at the program's origins, Forsa originally aimed to provide up to MAD 100,000 ($11,062) in interest-free loans to entrepreneurs over 18, with 10-year repayment terms and no guarantee requirements. The ambitious initiative was positioned as a solution to the difficulties young people face in accessing traditional financing sources and the obstacles encountered by very small enterprises. As the parliamentary investigation continues and reform proposals circulate, the future of Morocco's Forsa program remains uncertain. The gap between official success metrics and beneficiary experiences features the complex challenges of implementing large-scale entrepreneurship support initiatives, particularly in ensuring that well-intentioned programs deliver meaningful benefits to their intended recipients. Tags: entrepreneurshipForsa programyoung entrepreneurs
Irish Times
08-07-2025
- Irish Times
Oberstown staff member ‘punched in face in unprovoked attack' by young person, union says
A member of staff at Oberstown Children Detention Campus was hospitalised at the weekend following an assault by a young person, according to the Forsa trade union. The alleged incident on Sunday afternoon occurred in the exercise yard of one of the campus's units. The staff member was 'punched in the face several times in an unprovoked attack' and 'had to be taken to hospital where he was X-rayed for a suspected facial fracture', said a union source. The staff source said there were insufficient staffing levels in the yard at the time of Sunday's incident. READ MORE 'This young person has been involved in previous violent incidents on the campus ... They come from a very troubled, traumatic background and to be honest should have had far more intensive interventions far earlier in their life. 'They are probably in the wrong placement now.' The alleged assault comes less than a month after nine staff were injured in an incident involving a young person . That incident, during which improvised weapons were used, resulted in four staff being brought to hospital and a number being signed off work for up to a month, said Forsa. The union source, who works at Oberstown, queried assertions by Minister for Children Norma Foley , whose department oversees the campus, in a written answer to Social Democrats TD Gary Gannon last week, where she said the facility was 'not experiencing 'dangerously low staffing levels''. A staff survey conducted by Forsa in the last three months, seen by The Irish Times, found 69 per cent of staff members felt morale was 'low' or 'very low', while 54 per cent said morale had worsened in the previous 12 months. The survey, completed by 120 out of about 175 staff, found 80 per cent felt their workload had increased in the previous 12 months, with 74 per cent saying stress levels had worsened. A separate workplace culture report, commissioned by the Oberstown board of management and published on Friday, found just half of staff felt 'valued as an employee', while 'decision making in the interests of the young people could be improved'. The report, by accountancy firm Forvis Mazars, said 'substantial progress is still required' if the campus is to achieve its 'agreed target culture'. Oberstown's principal objective is 'to provide appropriate care, education, training and other programmes to young people between 12 and 18 years with a view to reintegrating them successfully back into their communities and society', the report noted. However, the centre's 'mission statement lacks clarity regarding the organisation's mandate in returning young people successfully to society' it said. 'While 76 per cent of survey respondents agreed Oberstown is a campus they enjoy working in, just half of staff agreed that they felt valued as an employee,' said the report. 'Cross-campus decision making in the interests of the young people could be improved as observed through focus group discussions. 'In the survey, just 47 per cent of respondents agreed that collaboration was actively encouraged.' On the issue of people development, the report found: 'There is no performance management system in Oberstown, as observed through focus group discussion, documentation review, and the survey where 71 per cent of staff agreed they had never been involved in a performance management process.' Authors found staff felt induction and onboarding systems could be strengthened 'to fully prepare them for their roles'. Just half of respondents agreed they were provided with the necessary information when they joined Oberstown. 'Only 25 per cent of survey respondents believed good performance is recognised at Oberstown and focus group discussions indicated there would be appreciation among staff for more acknowledgment of a 'job well done'.' A Department of Children spokesman said: 'The Department offers its full support to any member of staff who has been injured during the course of their work. As with all circumstances of this nature, these matters will be the subject of internal review. The Department does not comment on operational matters relating to Oberstown Children Detention Campus.' A spokesman for Oberstown said he could not comment on an individual incident, but that the campus 'offers its full support to any member of staff who has been injured during the course of their work'. He said management acknowledged the findings of the culture review, took the findings 'seriously' and were 'committed to acting on them'.
Russia Today
07-07-2025
- Politics
- Russia Today
Germany's AfD to soften stance on migrants
The Alternative for Germany (AfD) party has softened its anti-immigration rhetoric in a bid to appeal to moderate voters and prove itself capable of forming a government down the road, Bild has claimed. Founded in 2013, the right-wing party has steadily gained in popularity amid the continuing migrant crisis in Germany. It finished second in the federal elections in February, winning 152 seats in the 630-seat Bundestag. In April, a survey by the pollster Forsa indicated that it enjoyed the support of 26% of respondents, ahead of all the other parties in Germany. In an article on Saturday, Bild claimed to have seen a new seven-point policy paper that the AfD's parliamentary group was expected to adopt that same day. Conspicuously absent from the document are calls for the 'remigration' of German residents with a migrant background, as well as an insistence on the 'German guiding culture,' according to the outlet. Bild claimed that the terms had specifically been axed from the party program in order to 'reach more moderate voters,' and 'appear capable of governing by the next federal election' in 2029. Aside from these purported changes, the AfD also reportedly intends to adopt a code of conduct for its lawmakers in the Bundestag. The party's interim goal is to gain ground in next year's regional elections, Bild reported. The media outlet claimed that the updated program calls for an end to asylum-granting to refugees at the border, tougher naturalization requirements and less social welfare for migrants. The party also reportedly seeks to slash taxes, lift a self-imposed ban on the use of nuclear power plants, and restore the Nord Stream pipelines. The conduits, which used to carry Russian natural gas, were destroyed by a targeted underwater explosion in 2022. Berlin has since ruled out restoring them to operation. According to Bild, the right-wingers want Germany's foreign policy to be guided by the motto 'Germany first,' which would presumably entail an end to weapons deliveries to Ukraine and the lifting of sanctions on Russia. In a post on X on Sunday, the AfD Bundestag group revealed that its members had convened for a 'closed meeting' over the weekend to set 'political goals for the coming period.' The party was declared a 'confirmed right-wing extremist entity' by Germany's domestic intelligence agency in May, only for the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BfV) to suspend the label shortly thereafter.
