1. The traffic light is on, the coalition partners promise a “better country” - and at least the most important posts for ministers have been assigned
It is a kind of pre-Christmas presents that was staged by the traffic light parties SPD, Greens and FDP today in Berlin. Chancellor-designate Olaf Scholz and his future partners praised each other at the presentation of the coalition agreement, promised an alliance "on an equal footing" and spread a bit of confidence. The Greens co-party leader Annalena Baerbock saw “the way was paved for us as one of the largest industrial nations in the world to become climate-neutral”. And the presumed future Chancellor Olaf Scholz, who is known to be a member of the SPD, claimed: "We are united by the will to make the country better",
In the coalition agreement, for example, the initiative for the construction of 400,000 apartments, an increase in the minimum wage to twelve euros and the legalization of cannabis are considered to be central projects. The ministries have already divided the parties. The Liberals take over the finance ministry, among other things, the Greens a super ministry for climate and economy.
The Ministry of the Interior and the Ministry of Defense are planned for the SPD. The FDP leader Christian Lindner announced that Germany would remain "the advocate of solid finances" and that one of the goals of the new government was to unleash private initiative, private know-how and private capital.
In the well-informed and well-informing "traffic light news blog" of the Berlin colleagues, there is also Lindner's surprising assessment that he and his colleagues from the Greens "got to know Olaf Scholz again during the negotiations."
In the coalition talks, the previous finance minister actually turned out to be a "strong leader".
For classification and entertainment, I particularly liked the tweets of the SPIEGEL people in the news blog.
His colleague Veit Medick, for example, wrote about the astonishing harmony of the Ampel coalitionists: »Lindner quotes Egon Bahr.
The only thing missing is that Scholz quotes Guido Westerwelle right away. "
Read more here: Crisis team, care bonus, partial compulsory vaccination - Scholz announces new corona measures
2.
During the night riots in the Netherlands, the anger of many young people, but also of older vaccination opponents and lateral thinkers against stricter corona rules, erupts
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Police officers stand in front of a fire during the riot in Rotterdam
Photo: dpa
The Dutch writer Harry Mulisch, whose books I like very much, once formulated the doctrine for the conspiracy theorists of the world: “People believe in masterminds and diabolical conspiracies, but if they learned how politics is actually made they would be scared to death . «There have been violent protests in the Netherlands since Friday evening last week. They are directed against the recently adopted stricter corona rules in the country, which were drafted under the impression of the sharp increase in the number of infections and, for example, require restaurants and bars to be closed at 8 p.m.
The rioters set fires on sidewalks, set cars on fire, and threw chairs. The police arrived with water cannons and surveillance helicopters to bring the situation under control. Football hooligans and young people angry about limited opportunities to go out took part in the mostly nocturnal riots in big cities like Rotterdam, but also in small communities. But older anti-vaccination opponents and people who distrust politics in other ways, who can be compared with German lateral thinkers, are apparently among the protesters.
My colleague Lina Verschwele from the SPIEGEL international department asked the Dutch historian Friso Wielenga about the causes and circumstances of the explosion of violence - and found out, among other things, that a ban on firecrackers by the rulers directly contributed to the escalation. "On Friday it was decided that fireworks would be banned on New Year's Eve in order to reduce hospital stays," said Lina's interlocutor. "Many took the firecrackers with them at the weekend, which they are no longer allowed to fire on New Year's Eve."
I find one finding by the historian Wielenga particularly worrying.
He says the current political situation in the Netherlands is “comparable to that in Germany.
The corona policy lacks a clear line.
Confidence has sunk significantly as a result of the back and forth. «Are there similar excesses of violence to be feared in Germany as in the Netherlands?
My colleague Lina already considers the aggressive mood in this country to be at least as worrying as that in our neighboring country: »The case of the petrol station employee in Rhineland-Palatinate, who was shot by a customer after a mask dispute, seems even more dramatic to me than the riots in the Netherlands."
Read more here: Why the violence in the Netherlands is escalating
3.
UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson speaks bizarre times - but worries that the Gaga appearances could cost him his office are not justified
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Johnson speaking to business representatives
Photo: Owen Humphreys / imago images / ZUMA Press
The political ideas and decisions of British Prime Minister Boris Johnson often bring great joy to his party colleagues from the Tories. His appearances at the beginning of the week, however, are now causing unrest in the conservative party. Johnson quoted the Russian revolutionary saint Lenin in a speech to business representatives on Tuesday and compared himself to Moses, he imitated engine noises and talked for minutes about a visit to the amusement park "Peppa Pig World". "At one point he lost the thread and said for around 20 seconds nothing.
In a report by the BBC, an unspecified government source was quoted as saying that there was "a lot of concern within the building about the prime minister." Allegedly, some people around the prime minister are wondering whether Johnson is up to his office. There are rumors of votes in favor of a vote of no confidence from within their own party. I think it's wonderfully British how dashing Johnson's loyal deputy Dominic Raab was in this situation when facing the doubts: "The Prime Minister is in great shape," said Raab when asked about Johnson's appearance.
The self-portrayal of the politician Johnson, who likes to wear his hair artfully tousled, is notorious for its clown-like features - and in fact people like me, who mostly find his politics terrible, sometimes find him funny.
On Tuesday he raved about the cartoon character Peppa Pig.
Will that cost him his office?
Definitely not.
A London government spokesman said today that ministers in Johnson’s leadership are perfectly capable of telling the boss if they feel he is on the wrong track: “The Prime Minister has a whole cabinet to fall back on, that advises him as one would expect. "
Read the full story here: Weird Johnson appearance causes Tories to be upset
In the video: "A pig like a Picasso-like hair dryer ..."
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What else is important today
Thuringian Justice Committee lifts Björn Höcke's immunity:
In a campaign speech, the AfD country chief used a Nazi slogan, now the way is free for investigations.
Sweden's new head of government resigns - just hours after her election:
The term of office of Social Democrat Magdalena Andersson ends on the day of her election.
The background is apparently a dispute with the Greens.
British MPs receive a warning - because they brought their child into the plenary:
The colleagues praised their quiet child, but it should stay outside: A member of the British Labor Party has received a reprimand from the House of Commons - and is now expressing her anger publicly.
Hundreds of skeletons discovered in leprosy cemetery:
archaeologists unearthed more than 400 dead people in a late medieval leprosy cemetery in Freiburg.
The find also provides insights into a strange superstition of the time.
What we recommend today at SPIEGEL +
"The trajectory of such gliders is very difficult to predict":
Since a Chinese weapon test in the summer, the world has feared a new arms race.
Security expert Torben Schütz on the dangers of the new systems - and a technical masterpiece that has only now become known.
When women experience violence during childbirth:
The birth of a child is considered a solemn moment.
Because that is not always the case, there has been a day of remembrance for ten years.
Our columnist struggles with the conditions that sometimes prevail in obstetrics.
The envy factor:
Borussia Dortmund's offensive was mostly excellent.
Since this season, BVB has also had a goalkeeper, Gregor Kobel, whom other clubs can envy.
What is less important today - converted FC Bayern vaccine muffle
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National player Serge Gnabry
Photo:
Sven Hoppe / dpa
Serge Gnabry, 26, has now been vaccinated against Corona.
According to information from several media outlets, the FC Bayern Munich soccer player and his 18-year-old teammate Jamal Musiala had the first dose administered by one of the team's doctors.
This means that Joshua Kimmich, Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting and Michaël Cuisance will probably be the last three players at Bayern who have not been vaccinated;
at least two of the three should also consider vaccination.
Coach Julian Nagelsmann said he was pleased about the news of the rethinking of the professionals Musiala and Gnabry and pointed out that Gnabry, who had already contracted Corona, only needed one vaccination as a convalescent and would soon "gain full vaccination protection."
Typo of the day
, now corrected: »Linked article«
Cartoon of the day:
the traffic light is on
And tonight?
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Cinema film "The Kangaroo Chronicles" with Dimitrij Schaad (r.)
Photo: X Films
Could you first read the German column of my SPIEGEL colleague Hauke Goos and then watch the movie "The Kangaroo Chronicles", which is running on various streaming services. Using examples from literature, Hauke shows how powerful the German language can be - this time using Marc-Uwe Klings' book "Die Kangaroo Chronicles". In it he praises two very successful punch lines and writes that "both punch lines are complete nonsense". That is exactly what makes her beauty. The punch lines are not revealed here, of course, but our columnist sums them up as follows: »Half a backward move, half a step forward, towards the next conversation, which is also silted up in the absurd because life would otherwise be unbearable.«The art of the author Kling does not capture the film adaptation of the material by the director Dani Levy perfectly, but I found it very enjoyable. When it opened in the cinema, I recommended it to SPIEGEL readers as a "Schnappspraline turned into a film".
A lovely evening.
Heartfelt
Your Wolfgang Höbel
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