Good morning,
When Friedrich Merz takes the podium in the Bundestag this morning, what he doesn’t say will be very interesting. Merz will likely ignore one topic because there is no consensus within his government and his own parliamentary group: pensions.
This is the general debate in the Bundestag, ZDF is broadcasting live. It’s about the 2026 budget and the new debt of 180 billion euros. The Chancellor will definitely maintain the budget. However, regarding retirement, Merz has not yet found a solution that he can announce today.
Some trains were still racing against each other. The SPD, for example, insists that the pension package will be approved next week without any changes. SPD leader Bärbel Bas increases pressure on the Union:
Ultimately, of course, I also hope that the reliability and fidelity of this contract applies to everyone involved.
Bärbel Bas, SPD leader and labor minister
And then 18 young CDU/CSU members continued to threaten not to approve the package. Without them, Merz would not have received a majority. Moreover, around 30 other Union MPs were also critical of the package, according to ZDFheute information.
If the youth group meets with Merz and Union faction leader Jens Spahn this week, the question arises: What can they really offer the kids? Will the vote be postponed? Or is Merz even threatening to conflate pension issues with trust issues?
The latter possibility is unlikely because it would weaken Merz’s chancellorship. The Chancellor’s spokesman ruled this out on Monday. So Merz had to omit this word in his speech today: the question of trust.
Warm greetings from Berlin!
Dominik Rzepka, correspondent at ZDF’s capital studio
What happened in the Ukrainian war
Rutte warns of too high expectations for US “peace plan”: “It contains some strong elements, but also some difficult elements that require more work and negotiations,” NATO Secretary General Rutte told the German editorial network (RND) and Spanish newspaper “El Pais”. “We are still far from achieving our goal towards peace.” The “peace plan” is the basis of talks between Ukraine and America.
Which is still important today
Steinmeier on state visit to Spain: Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and his wife Elke Büdenbender began a three-day state visit to Spain. Initially they will be welcomed in Madrid by King Felipe VI. and Queen Letizia, who will also host a state banquet in the evening to honor guests from Germany.
Sarkozy’s appeal decision: France’s highest court wants to rule by 2 p.m. about former President Nicolas Sarkozy’s appeal against further punishment. The case was not about Libya, but about illegal campaign financing, so Sarkozy was sentenced to one year in prison.
Detailed information
Starmer in bad mood: Shortly before the presentation of the 2025 budget, uncertainty is increasing in the UK. Labor faltered, the economy weakened and Nigel Farage benefited. Britta Jäger with her analysis.
A sporting start to the day
It starts today Women’s Handball World Cup. This game is played in the Netherlands – and in Germany. The selection of the German Handball Association wants to take advantage of home advantage, the stated goal is to reach the semifinals. The first match was against Iceland in Stuttgart. Writer Erik Eggers introduces the German team and we’ve also put together everything you need to know about the tournament for you.
In Champions League Eintracht Frankfurt will host Italian club Atalanta Bergamo tonight, while FC Bayern will visit Arsenal FC in London. England fans think their club still has issues to settle with the German record champions – the reason, explains writer Alexander Glodzinski of Auslandsjournal.
that day’s number
5 billion euros. A few days ago, Research Minister Dorothee Bär (CSU) announced that she wants to significantly increase German funding for the European Space Agency (ESA).
Starting today, the space ministers of ESA member countries will meet in Bremen to determine funding priorities for the coming years. With Bär’s targeted funding increase, Germany is likely to become a leader in government spending on space activities in Europe after decades of reluctance.
It said
Red pigtails, giant shoes, bear strength – that’s Pippi Longstocking. 80 years ago today, on November 26, 1945, Astrid Lindgren’s children’s book was first published in Sweden. To date, the book has sold 66 million copies worldwide – the film and series adaptations have thrilled generations.
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11/26/2025 | 2:06 min
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This is what the weather is like today
Currently, the area may loosen up in the north and northwest regions. Otherwise, the weather will remain mostly cloudy and perhaps some rain, especially from the Erzgebirge to the Alps, and snow at higher altitudes. The maximum value reaches 0 to 6 degrees. You can find the latest weather reports from ZDF meteorologists here in the video.
Compiled by Torben Heine.
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