Skip next section Broadcaster RTL to cut some 600 jobs
12/02/2025December 2, 2025
Broadcaster RTL to cut some 600 jobs
Media outlet RTL Deutschland is to make large job cuts as it carries out a restructuring program to adapt to a challenging economic environment, its CEO, Stephan Schmitter, told the DPA news agency on Tuesday.
He said around 600 positions would disappear, including both full-time and part-time roles.
Schmitter said the broadcaster needed to restructure to adapt both to profound changes in the media market and the difficult economic situation but insisted that the restructuring would be “as socially responsible, respectful and transparent as possible.”
Among other things, a special severance program has been developed to support employees who lose their jobs, he said.
“The social plan we negotiated with the works council is intended to avoid redundancies as much as possible,” he said, saying that mitigation measures included phased retirement and severance payments.
Both the ongoing recession and weak TV advertising markets have put pressure on private broadcasters in Germany, with linear TV advertising revenues in Germany falling by more than 20% since 2019.
RTL Deutschland is part of the international RTL Group, Europe’s largest commercial broadcasting group. In Germany, the company operates the RTL, ntv and Vox channels as well as streaming service RTL+.
https://p.dw.com/p/54cCj
Skip next section German economy in ‘deepest crisis’ since WWII — industry group
12/02/2025December 2, 2025
German economy in ‘deepest crisis’ since WWII — industry group
Germany’s economy, Europe’s biggest, is undergoing the “deepest crisis” in postwar history, an industry group has warned, while calling for urgent action from the conservative-led coalition government.
The president of the Federation of German Industries, Peter Leibinger, said the economy was “in free fall, but the federal government is not responding decisively enough.”
“Germany now needs an economic policy turnaround with clear priorities for competitiveness and growth,” he said.
The BDI warned that the situation was “not a temporary economic dip, but a structural decline” and predicted a fall in industrial production for a fourth consecutive year in 2025.
The German economy has faced a slew of major challenges in recent years, ranging from high energy costs and reduced demand for its exports to growing economic rivalry with China and the unpredictable tariffs coming from Washington.
These have led to two years of recession, with meager growth predicted in 2025 as well.
Chancellor Friedrich Merz of the right-wing Christian Democrats (CDU) has vowed to revive the economy but has faced increasing criticism that his government has undertaken too little in this regard in the six months since taking office.
https://p.dw.com/p/54c2q
Skip next section Germany produced 1.07 million tons of chocolate in 2024
12/02/2025December 2, 2025
Germany produced 1.07 million tons of chocolate in 2024
Chocolate Santas are a popular treat in the run-up to Christmas in GermanyImage: Fleig/Eibner-Pressefoto/picture alliance
German chocolate production reached 12.8 kilos per person in 2024, according to the Federal Statistics Office (Destatis).
That’s equivalent to two and a half 100g bars of chocolate per person every week.
However, this did not mean that Germans were feasting on all this chocolate. Some 981,400 tonnes were exported, with only 525,400 being imported.
This left consumption at around 614,000 tons.
Of the imported chocolate, Belgian was the favorite, accounting for around a quarter of imports.
A large share of exports were also destined for neighboring countries, with France (12.3%), Poland (9.9%) and the UK (9.4%) being the biggest consumers of German chocolate
https://p.dw.com/p/54bHW
Skip next section AfD removes councillor after Hitler-style speech
12/02/2025December 2, 2025
AfD removes councillor after Hitler-style speech
The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) has removed a council member from its faction in the west German town of Herford after he gave a speech at the AfD youth organization’s founding congress on Saturday that was reminiscent of Nazi leader Adolf Hitler.
The party was trying to set up a new youth organization, Generation Germany, after the previous one was labelled as confirmed extremist by the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BfV).
The event was also met with thousands of protesters.
Alexander Eichwald, an unknown newcomer to the party, took to the stage calling to his “party comrades,” saying: “We share our love and loyalty to Germany here together.”
Emphasizing the trilled R pronunciation that conjures images of Hitler, the 30-year-old continued, “it is and remains our national duty to protect German culture from foreign influences,” sparking boos from the crowd.
His local branch of the party is now looking to expel him.
The BfV for the state of Thuringia has reportedly already started looking into the new youth organization as potentially right-wing extremist.
Stephen Kramer, president of the local BfV office, said that it was not just a single speech that was driving the investigation, but rather all the speeches and contributions.
“Ethnic nationalism and allusions and parallels to the guiding principles of the Hitler Youth are some of the points of reference here,” Kramer told RND newspaper network.
Germany: Thousands rally against far-right youth group
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https://p.dw.com/p/54b2d
Skip next section What is the issue with the German pension reform?
12/02/2025December 2, 2025
What is the issue with the German pension reform?
Like many Western European countries, Germany has an aging population that needs to be cared for in retirement, but who also make up a key voting bloc, especially for the two main coalition parties — SPD and CDU.
The parties had agreed to a pension reform in their coalition agreement that would lock in pensions at 48% of the average income until 2031.
Another key aspect is the introduction of the “active pension” that aims to encourage pensioners to keep working voluntarily.
But it is the cost of the pensions that has created a fracture within the coalition government, with the 18 Young Union members of the Bundestag threatening to vote against the reform. The government only has a 12-seat majority.
The plan to keep pensions in line with incomes is expected to cost the state €11 billion ($12.77 billion) by 2031 and up to €15 billion a year after that if the pinned rate increases, which is what the SPD wants.
The coalition has refused to make changes to the reform to appease the rebellious lawmakers, but Merz has offered a discussion on even deeper reforms for the pension system after 2031.
On Monday, the Young Union continued to say it could not vote in favor of the bill, but stopped short of a full rebellion, saying that each member could vote independently.
On Tuesday, the Union is set to discuss the legislation and hold a test vote to see if they have the numbers ahead of Friday’s real vote.
SPD’s co-leader Bärbel Bas has said that a failed vote then could stall all further legislation and threaten Merz’s government.
Young Vs Old? How a fight over pensions is shaking the German government
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https://p.dw.com/p/54avc
Skip next section Welcome to our coverage12/02/2025December 2, 2025
Welcome to our coverage
Good morning from rainy Bonn!
Tuesday looks set to be a deciding day for the future of Germany’s coalition government with the CDU/CSU holding a test vote on a pension reform package.
A lack of necessary votes could undermine the government and further fracture the coalition.
The Bundestag will also hold a memorial hour for the victims of the Paris attacks ten years ago.
https://p.dw.com/p/54atU
