Today we are dealing with the fear of the US Democrats against a debacle in the impeachment proceedings against Donald Trump, with the new climate plans of EU leader Ursula von der Leyen and with the advertising ban for tobacco.
From the Leyens ambitious climate plans
Zheng Huansong / DPA
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Issue 50/2019
Burned out
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After long haggling over the staff, the new EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is finally allowed to start with the right work. Already today she wants to introduce one of her most important projects in more detail, the so-called Green Deal, a European program for climate protection.
The goal of the new EU leader is to make Europe the first climate-neutral continent by 2050. This means that the EU should not produce more greenhouse gases than offset by measures such as afforestation. To do so, von der Leyen wants to rebuild industry, energy generation, local transport and a number of other areas in such a way that the emission of greenhouse gases is massively reduced. Of course, all of this costs a lot of money and requires the readiness of the Member States to participate in the ambitious undertaking.
In order to promote their plans, von der Leyen wants to discuss the climate plan with the heads of state and government as early as the end of the week at the EU summit. That would be the first real mood test, so to speak.
- Comparison of national climate policy: Germany: insufficient
Is the Democrats facing an impeachment debacle?
J. Scott Applewhite / AP
The US Democrats have now officially submitted the charges for the impeachment of President Donald Trump. Presumably, it will vote in the House of Representatives before Christmas, then the Senate will have to deal with it in January. There are two ways to look at the whole process: from a political-ethical point of view, the Democrats are doing the right thing, trying to sanction the constitutional break with the President.
From a purely political-tactical point of view, however, things could still become a debacle for the party . The hopes of Nancy Pelosi and Co. that during the hearings in Congress the mood in the population would clearly turn against the president, has not been fulfilled. Although some surveys show that Trump is unpopular. But there are also surveys suggesting that Trump may gain popularity in key states that could become important in next year's election. Apparently there is a certain "impeachment fatigue" there . Many voters expect politics in Washington to make concrete policies for the people - and not debating Trump's impeachment all day long. They follow Trump's narrative.
Pelosi is obviously aware of this problem. This is evidenced, for example, by her negotiating a deal with Trump almost at the same time as her solemn impeachment announcement. She wants to agree with his trade agreement with Canada and Mexico. Trump can be happy. Should it actually happen, the Democrats would give him a nice political success. This is called American dialectic.
- Aggressive Republicans: Trump's rioters
It has fumed
Peter Endig / imago images
Germany is the last country in the European Union that can still advertise on billboards or in cinemas for cigarettes. After years of dispute between the parties, this is about to change. The Bundestag faction of the Union, which was until recently as a refuge of resistance to a far-reaching tobacco advertising ban , has given a jolt and wants to support a new regulation now. It also includes e-cigarettes. The aim is to reduce the overall number of smokers, especially young people should be prevented by the harmful vices.
So far, many members of the European Union have resisted because they wanted to prevent the way being paved for further advertising bans , such as sweets or alcohol. The turnaround can now Chancellor Angela Merkel as a success on the flags write, they had advertised for months with their party friends for the ban.
- Debate on tobacco advertising: In the haze of the lobby
Loser of the day ...
Adriano Machado / REUTERS
... is Jair Bolsonaro . The Brazilian president is known for his harsh attacks against critics and politically dissenters, now he has in his inimitable nature, the climate activist Greta Thunberg buttoned. Thunberg, who is fighting the clearing of the Brazilian rainforest, is a "pirralha", Bolsonaro scolded. In German, that means as much as "brat". Thunberg countered calmly. After the attack, she changed her Twitter biography. There is now: Greta Thunberg, Pirralha.
The compact news overview in the morning: current and opinionated. Every morning (weekdays) at 6 o'clock. Order directly here:
The latest news from the night
- Gunfight in New Jersey: According to police hundreds of shots were fired. Six people died, including a police officer
- Pentagon stops training Saudi Arabian military officials in the US: It's a reaction to the deadly attack on an army base in Florida
- For the first time, more than one million SUVs and off-road vehicles have been registered in Germany: it is risky for the climate and traffic
The SPIEGEL + recommendations for today
- Before the election in the United Kingdom: triumph of extremists
- Star economist on the US economy: "Trump has a certain charisma like Hitler"
- Special investigator in the football stadium: Undercover hooligans and racists
- Security expert gives tips: "Better take your smartphone for online banking"
- CDU chief Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer: Your bad first year
I wish you a nice start to the day.
Your Roland Nelles