Germany news: Coalition at odds over pay rises for MPs
Key takeaways
- German conservatives want to hold on to automatic pay increases for lawmakers, while the center-left thinks they should skip it this year in light of the economic situation.
- Chancellor Merz is set to visit the Digitalization Ministry one year after his coalition created it.
- 05/07/2026May 7, 2026German tourist wins payout over sun-lounger fightGermans have long been stereotyped as waking up at dawn to reserve sun loungers with towels while on vacation in places like Spain, Italy, and Greece.
Why this matters: an international story with cross-border implications worth tracking.
German conservatives want to hold on to automatic pay increases for lawmakers, while the center-left thinks they should skip it this year in light of the economic situation. DW has more.
https://p.dw.com/p/5DOPm CDU leaders like Jens Spahn (center, with Chancellor Merz) approve of the pay increases [FILE: May 5, 2026]Image: Mike Schmidt/IMAGOAdvertisement Skip next section What you need to know What you need to know The SPD, as well as the opposition Left Party, have spoken out against this year's planned pay rise for members of the Bundestag. Chancellor Merz is set to visit the Digitalization Ministry one year after his coalition created it. Here is the latest news from around Germany on Thursday, May 7:
05/07/2026May 7, 2026German tourist wins payout over sun-lounger fightGermans have long been stereotyped as waking up at dawn to reserve sun loungers with towels while on vacation in places like Spain, Italy, and Greece. However — travelers report that this has become a widespread problem that cuts across nationalities.