Latest news with #RobertHabeck
New European
13-05-2025
- Politics
- New European
Germansplaining: The battle over free speech
Whether sparked by the refugee crisis, the pandemic, Russia's war in Ukraine or climate change, many people already describe today's Germany as GDR 2.0 – a reference to the old, totalitarian East Germany. That is absurd, but nevertheless it is a problem if an ever-larger number of people are hesitant to voice political opinions, and feel excluded from public discourse. The internet has become a playground for trolls, hate-mongers, and libel artists – and it's been out of control for ages. But what's spiralling now, among German judges and prosecutors, is something else entirely: the value placed on free speech. A few recent cases make the point. Take the 64-year-old whose flat was raided after he shared a meme of then-economics minister Robert Habeck (Greens), doctored to read Schwachkopf (half-wit) in the style of Schwarzkopf shampoo. Or the man fined €3,500 (£2,950) for a snapshot showing then-health minister Karl Lauterbach with his right arm raised. Or €1,500 (£1,260) for sharing an ironically annotated screenshot on X of trending topics with the hashtag #AllesfürDeutschland (All for Germany – a banned slogan once used by the SA, Hitler's original paramilitary group). Or this one: a suspended seven-month jail sentence and a fine of €1,500 for the editor of a far right rag that had published a photomontage of the SPD's Nancy Faeser, then interior minister, holding a sign saying 'Ich hasse die Meinungsfreiheit' ('I hate freedom of expression'). The court didn't trust the public to get the satire. And then there was the protester in Berlin with a sign reading 'Have we learned nothing from the Holocaust?' – convicted on the grounds that she had trivialised the Shoah. To be clear: I disagree with all the expressed views, in content, form or both. And yes, words matter – that's precisely what makes this debate so tricky. Years ago, I tested the responsiveness of German law myself, after a particularly nasty post about me. Had I simply been called 'the dumbest so-called journalist ever', fine. But this was a sexualised insult – clearly libellous. I filed a complaint. Here's what happened: nothing. I haven't bothered since. When politicians file similar complaints – as in most of the cases above – things can move fast, thanks to a 2021 change in our criminal code, which now penalises insulting a 'person in the political life of the people'. Wanting to shield people in a public office from abuse is understandable. Local politicians, in particular, are dropping out in droves after being hounded, online and off. But when the law hands out six-month minimum sentences for verbal offences, it starts to feel less like protection and more like Majestätsbeleidigung – lèse-majesté, modern edition. And by the way: who in their right mind would believe the interior minister actually walks around with a sign saying 'I hate free speech'? Unsurprisingly, these decisions have triggered a wave of criticism – from the public, the media, legal scholars, and politicians themselves. Because whether intended or not, they reinforce the far right's favourite narrative: that you can't speak your mind any more. Sanctions have been tightened in other areas, too. In cases of 'deadnaming' or 'misgendering', offenders can be fined up to €10,000 under the Self-Determination Act. Legal scholars think this isn't the end, yet: the coalition agreement envisages a new independent media watchdog to monitor 'fake news' and Hass und Hetze – hate and incitement. Frauke Rostalski, a criminal law and legal philosophy professor from Cologne University, recently issued this warning in Legal Tribune Online: 'The impression quickly arises that critical voices are to be silenced by criminal law means – by the very people who see themselves scrutinised by this criticism.' She doubts that those who want to make democracy and social discourse more resilient can do so by ever more criminal law interventions in freedom of expression. Rostalski argues that state interventions and individual hypersensitivities could stifle conversation and, at worst, result in 'relevant arguments being ignored, entire topics avoided, or speakers excluded from the discourse'. Many of these verdicts will probably be overturned on appeal. But the damage is done. They offer exactly what conspiracy theorists and far right influencers crave: an invitation to play the martyr. And the courts, of all places, should know better than to hand them that script.
Reuters
07-05-2025
- Business
- Reuters
New economy minister says Germany must actively seek trade improvements
BERLIN, May 7 (Reuters) - Germany must actively seek improvements in the trade outlook rather than wait for improvements, the country's new economy minister Katherina Reiche said on Wednesday. "We cannot hope that the export and import opportunities for German companies will automatically improve in the coming years, we have to take action ourselves," Reiche said after the handover ceremony with former economy minister Robert Habeck. She spoke about the importance of diversifying the European Union's trading partners with free trade agreements with countries like Chile, Mexico, Australia and India, as well as Latin America's Mercosur bloc, but she added that the United States would remain Germany's main trading partner. The European Commission is coordinating the 27-nation bloc's response to import tariffs announced by U.S. President Donald Trump, including a 25% levy on its steel, aluminium and cars and an additional 10% on almost all other goods. "Trade wars have disadvantages for both sides and that is why it is important that we reach a free trade agreement with the U.S.," Reiche said. The U.S. was Germany's biggest trading partner in 2024 with two-way goods trade totaling 253 billion euros ($287.16 billion). ($1 = 0.8811 euros)
CNBC
30-04-2025
- Business
- CNBC
Germany's economy expands by 0.2% in the first quarter, in line with expectations
Germany's economy expanded by 0.2% in the first quarter from the previous three-month period, preliminary data showed Wednesday, as U.S. tariff tensions threaten the country's growth outlook. The figure, released by the German federal statistics office, is adjusted for price, calendar and seasonal variations. The gross domestic product reading was in line with estimates from economists polled by Reuters. Germany's gross domestic had contracted by 0.2% in the fourth quarter. Europe's largest economy has long been sluggish, with its GDP flip-flopping between growth and contraction in each quarter throughout 2023 and 2024. The country has so far avoided technical recession, which is defined by two consecutive quarters of contraction. Key sectors of the economy, such as autos, have been suffering from stronger competition from China. Other industries including housebuilding and infrastructure have also been going through trying times that have been linked to higher costs, muted investment and bureaucratic hurdles. Separately, U.S President Donald Trump's tariff policies have thrust uncertainty onto export reliant Germany which counts the U.S. as its most important trading partner. As part of the European Union, Germany is facing 20% blanket tariffs on goods exported to the U.S., although these levies have been temporarily reduced to 10% to allow time for negotiations. U.S. duties on steel, aluminum and autos also affect the country. The German government last week cut its economic outlook to predict stagnation in 2025, with outgoing economy minister Robert Habeck saying Trump's trade policies and their impact on the country were the main factor behind the revision. One bright spot could emerge on the horizon. Germany earlier this year made changes to its long-standing debt brake fiscal rule, enabling higher defense spending, and creating a 500 billion euro ($570 billion) fund dedicated to infrastructure and climate investments. This move has widely been regarded as a positive shift for the German economy, although much still depends on how the changes are implemented. While Germany's economy has been sluggish, the local inflation rate has been closing in on the European Central Bank's 2% target. The country's consumer price index, harmonized for comparability across the euro zone, came in at 2.3% in March on an annual basis, down from 2.6% in February. Preliminary inflation figures for April are due out later on Wednesday, with economists polled by Reuters estimating a 2.1% reading.
Yahoo
27-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
BASF SE (BAS.DE): Among the Best German Dividend Stocks to Buy Now
We recently published a list of . In this article, we are going to take a look at where BASF SE (XETRA: stands against other best German dividend stocks to buy now. At the end of January this year, Germany's government significantly slashed its GDP growth forecast for 2025 to just 0.3% from the prior estimate of 1.1%. German economy minister Robert Habeck expressed concern, highlighting stagnation despite some positive signs like rising credit demand. This revision is in line with projections from other institutions like the IMF and Bundesbank. Germany's economy shrank by 0.2% in 2024, following a 0.3% decline in 2023. The government pointed to stagnant growth plans, geopolitical uncertainties, and structural issues such as labor shortages and weak investment. While the country faces challenges, there is hope for better growth by 2026. Similarly, Germany's Ifo Institute has also cut its 2025 growth forecast to just 0.2%, pointing to sluggish consumer spending and hesitancy among companies to invest. While a slight improvement to 0.8% is expected next year, the outlook remains shaky due to political uncertainty and possible US trade policies. Despite some recovery in purchasing power, consumer confidence is still low, and industries are feeling the pressure from weak demand and growing global competition. Ifo also warned that US tariffs on European goods could pose a serious threat to German exports. According to the Association of German Banks, a stronger recovery is not likely until 2026, when growth could reach 1.4%. The outlook has worsened, especially after the U.S. announced a 25% tariff on imported cars, causing a major blow to German automakers. Corporate investment is also expected to stay sluggish, with even the projected 3.5% increase in 2026 falling short of previous post-crisis rebounds. Still, experts say that strong reforms and a more competitive tax policy from the next government could help turn things around sooner. Jari Stehn, Chief European Economist at Goldman Sachs Research, shed some light on the German economy and commented back in December 2024: 'Even though industrial production is down significantly over the last few years, the amount of value added has actually been much more stable. German companies have been able to respond by moving out of relatively low-margin production in chemicals or paper, and so on, into higher value production. I think the way forward essentially is for German companies to continue to do that.' With that outlook in mind, individuals who want to diversify their portfolios and add income-generating stocks to their investment mix can invest in some stable German dividend stocks. For this article, we used the iShares DivDAX® UCITS ETF (DE) to filter out German dividend stocks. The ETF aims to replicate the performance of an index comprising 15 high dividend yield stocks selected from the 30 largest and most actively traded companies on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange's Prime Standard segment. From this fund, we focused on picking prominent stocks with positive investor sentiment, stable yields, and strong dividend policies. The list below is ranked in ascending order of dividend yield as of April 21. Why are we interested in the stocks that hedge funds pile into? The reason is simple: our research has shown that we can outperform the market by imitating the top stock picks of the best hedge funds. Our quarterly newsletter's strategy selects 14 small-cap and large-cap stocks every quarter and has returned 373.4% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 218 percentage points (). Copyright: vencavolrab78 / 123RF Stock Photo Dividend Yield as of April 21: 5.36% BASF SE (XETRA: is a German player in the chemicals industry, offering a wide range of products across six business segments – Chemicals, Materials, Industrial Solutions, Surface Technologies, Nutrition & Care, and Agricultural Solutions. Its products range from petrochemicals and high-performance materials to additives for industrial use, coatings, and crop protection. BASF SE (XETRA: ranks 4th on our list of the best German dividend stocks to buy. On March 25, BASF SE (XETRA: sold its 49% stake in the Nordlicht 1 and 2 wind farms back to Vattenfall. However, the partnership is not ending. BASF will continue working with Vattenfall through a long-term renewable energy supply deal to power its European chemical operations. While the sale will lead to a €300 million accounting loss in early 2025, BASF stays committed to cutting carbon dioxide emissions. Renewable electricity now makes up 26% of its total usage, up from 20% the year before, and it plans to keep pushing that number higher. In 2024, BASF's sales dropped to €65.3 billion from €68.9 billion in 2023, driven by price cuts and lower precious metal prices in the Surface Technologies segment. While core businesses and agricultural solutions saw volume increases, the overall decline was impacted by competition and currency fluctuations. However, net income rose to €1.3 billion, which included a significant gain from selling Wintershall Dea assets. Cash flow from operations decreased by €1.2 billion to €6.9 billion, and free cash flow also dropped to €748 million. BASF invested €5.1 billion, focusing on the Verbund site in China, and stayed under its investment forecast. The company plans to return at least €12 billion to shareholders from 2025 to 2028, with a proposed 2024 dividend of €2.25 per share. Overall, ranks 4th on our list of best German dividend stocks to buy now. While we acknowledge the potential of German stocks as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that some deeply undervalued dividend stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns, and doing so within a shorter time frame. If you are looking for a deeply undervalued dividend stock that is more promising than but that trades at 10 times its earnings and grows its earnings at double digit rates annually, check out our report about the . READ NEXT: 20 Best AI Stocks To Buy Now and 30 Best Stocks to Buy Now According to Billionaires. Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey. Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
27-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Deutsche Post AG (DHL.DE): Among the Best German Dividend Stocks to Buy Now
We recently published a list of . In this article, we are going to take a look at where Deutsche Post AG (XETRA: stands against other best German dividend stocks to buy now. At the end of January this year, Germany's government significantly slashed its GDP growth forecast for 2025 to just 0.3% from the prior estimate of 1.1%. German economy minister Robert Habeck expressed concern, highlighting stagnation despite some positive signs like rising credit demand. This revision is in line with projections from other institutions like the IMF and Bundesbank. Germany's economy shrank by 0.2% in 2024, following a 0.3% decline in 2023. The government pointed to stagnant growth plans, geopolitical uncertainties, and structural issues such as labor shortages and weak investment. While the country faces challenges, there is hope for better growth by 2026. Similarly, Germany's Ifo Institute has also cut its 2025 growth forecast to just 0.2%, pointing to sluggish consumer spending and hesitancy among companies to invest. While a slight improvement to 0.8% is expected next year, the outlook remains shaky due to political uncertainty and possible US trade policies. Despite some recovery in purchasing power, consumer confidence is still low, and industries are feeling the pressure from weak demand and growing global competition. Ifo also warned that US tariffs on European goods could pose a serious threat to German exports. According to the Association of German Banks, a stronger recovery is not likely until 2026, when growth could reach 1.4%. The outlook has worsened, especially after the U.S. announced a 25% tariff on imported cars, causing a major blow to German automakers. Corporate investment is also expected to stay sluggish, with even the projected 3.5% increase in 2026 falling short of previous post-crisis rebounds. Still, experts say that strong reforms and a more competitive tax policy from the next government could help turn things around sooner. Jari Stehn, Chief European Economist at Goldman Sachs Research, shed some light on the German economy and commented back in December 2024: 'Even though industrial production is down significantly over the last few years, the amount of value added has actually been much more stable. German companies have been able to respond by moving out of relatively low-margin production in chemicals or paper, and so on, into higher value production. I think the way forward essentially is for German companies to continue to do that.' With that outlook in mind, individuals who want to diversify their portfolios and add income-generating stocks to their investment mix can invest in some stable German dividend stocks. For this article, we used the iShares DivDAX® UCITS ETF (DE) to filter out German dividend stocks. The ETF aims to replicate the performance of an index comprising 15 high dividend yield stocks selected from the 30 largest and most actively traded companies on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange's Prime Standard segment. From this fund, we focused on picking prominent stocks with positive investor sentiment, stable yields, and strong dividend policies. The list below is ranked in ascending order of dividend yield as of April 21. Why are we interested in the stocks that hedge funds pile into? The reason is simple: our research has shown that we can outperform the market by imitating the top stock picks of the best hedge funds. Our quarterly newsletter's strategy selects 14 small-cap and large-cap stocks every quarter and has returned 373.4% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 218 percentage points (). Pixabay/Public Domain Dividend Yield as of April 21: 5.17% Deutsche Post AG (XETRA: is a German multinational mail and logistics company. The company offers fast delivery services, transportation by air, sea, and land, customized logistics and warehousing solutions, parcel shipping and international deliveries, and local mail and package services. It is one of the best German dividend stocks for a diversified income portfolio. On April 17, Deutsche Bank reiterated a Buy rating on Deutsche Post AG (XETRA: but trimmed the price target from €50 to €42. Deutsche Bank cut its 2025 earnings forecast for DHL to €5.98 billion, just below the company's target of €6 billion, due to trade uncertainties and recession risks. Despite the cautious outlook, the investment firm sees value in the stock. Deutsche Post AG (XETRA: announced on April 7 that it is investing €2 billion over the next five years to strengthen its healthcare and life sciences logistics. The company plans to expand cold chain capacity, build new pharma hubs, and upgrade tech for better visibility and reliability. Through its new brand, DHL Health Logistics, and the recent acquisition of CRYOPDP, the company aims to support faster, safer delivery of critical treatments like biopharma and cell therapies. With this move, DHL plans to double its healthcare revenue to €10 billion by 2030 and stay ahead in patient-focused logistics. Overall, ranks 5th on our list of best German dividend stocks to buy now. While we acknowledge the potential of German stocks as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that some deeply undervalued dividend stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns, and doing so within a shorter time frame. If you are looking for a deeply undervalued dividend stock that is more promising than but that trades at 10 times its earnings and grows its earnings at double digit rates annually, check out our report about the . READ NEXT: 20 Best AI Stocks To Buy Now and 30 Best Stocks to Buy Now According to Billionaires. Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey. Sign in to access your portfolio
