Meanwhile, the government of Chancellor Friedrich Merz faced intense questioning in parliament over its draft budget and performance so far.
Merz has given his first speech as chancellor at a so-called general debate, defending his migration policy and rejecting accusations of having broken promises made before taking office.
And special German police units have been searching a number of properties in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia as part of a probe into suspected plans for an Islamist terror attack, arresting one man, officials said on Wednesday.
A 27-year-old man with Bosnian-Herzogovinian citizenship has been detained on suspicion of financing the planned attack through fraudulent commercial activities and will appear before a judge.
Below, you can read a roundup of news, analysis and background from Germany on Wednesday, July 9.
Skip next section German Bundestag: Attacks and insults dominate debate07/09/2025July 9, 2025
German Bundestag: Attacks and insults dominate debate
Sabine KinkartzAlice Weidel from the far-right AfD party speaks during the general debateImage: Kay Nietfeld/dpa/picture alliance
Whenever the budget is debated in the Bundestag, it is the opposition’s moment to shine.
This is its opportunity to catalog everything it dislikes about the government’s policies.
Chancellor Friedrich Merz has now led the coalition of the conservative Christian Democrats (CDU) and the Christian Social Union (CSU) parties and the left-leaning Social Democrats (SPD) for 65 days. What have they been able to accomplish so far?
Read the full story here.
https://p.dw.com/p/4xDx4Skip next section Volkswagen reports sales surge of EVs07/09/2025July 9, 2025
Volkswagen reports sales surge of EVs
The Volkswagen Group reported Wednesday that in the first half of 2025, 465,000 electric vehicles (EVs)were sold — amounting to a 47% increase when compared to the same time period last year.
The German auto giant also reported a slight increase in overall global deliveries at 1.3%.
The Volkswagen Group, which owns brands including VW, Audi, and SEAT, said that deliveries totaled 4.4 million in the first 6 months of 2025.
However, performance differences were reported across regions.
“Gains in South America and Europe more than compensated for the expected declines in China and North America,” said Marco Schubert, member of the extended VW Group Management Board.
Germany ramps up EV recycling
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https://p.dw.com/p/4xDvzSkip next section Steinmeier honors Holocaust survivor Margot Friedländer at memorial service07/09/2025July 9, 2025
Steinmeier honors Holocaust survivor Margot Friedländer at memorial service
Steinmeier spoke at a memorial service in Berlin’s Philharmonie concert hall Image: Lisi Niesner/Reuters/Pool/dpa/picture alliance
German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier has paid tribute to Holocaust survivor Margot Friedländer, calling her memory a reminder to fight for tolerance, democracy and humanity.
Speaking at a memorial service in Berlin’s Philharmonie concert hall on Wednesday, two months after Friedländer died at 103, Steinmeier recalled his “very special” encounters with her.
“It was a privilege to speak with her. She had a radiance that filled every room,” he said, praising her warmth and kindness that inspired people of all ages.
After surviving the Theresienstadt concentration camp, Friedländer spent years in the US before returning to Berlin at 88. She became widely known for her tireless work urging Germans never to for
Sursa: DW