Today is about Donald Trump's prospects of beating Ron DeSantis, about the delivery of Patriot missiles to Ukraine - and about the EU summit with many contentious issues.
Trump's DeSantis problem
Donald Trump still manages to cause a lot of fuss in an inimitable way.
However, his announcement that he intends to run again for the presidency did not trigger a storm of joy among voters in the USA.
The latest poll numbers for him are catastrophic.
According to a survey by the USA Today newspaper and Suffolk University, Trump's rival Ron DeSantis has long been much more popular among Republican supporters than the ex-president.
He's an amazing 23 percentage points ahead of Trump.
DeSantis comes in a direct comparison to 56, Trump to 33 percent approval.
A survey by the Wall Street Journal provides a similar finding.
Even in direct comparison to Joe Biden, things don't look much better for Trump.
If there were a presidential election now, according to the Suffolk poll, Biden would receive 47 percent of all votes, Trump would only get 40 percent.
DeSantis, on the other hand, could beat Biden: He would get 47 percent, Biden 43 percent.
The good news for Trump:
He still has a little time to overcome the low.
The Republican preselection doesn't begin until January 2024. A lot can happen before then.
And: From today's perspective, he still has a chance in the primary elections.
A large field of applicants could help Trump.
Because in addition to DeSantis and Trump, several other top Republicans are interested in running for office.
Asa Hutchinson
, the previous governor of Arkansas,
has just announced his ambitions.
Trump's hope: With a broad field of applicants, the base votes could initially be distributed among all possible candidates.
Not only would DeSantis compete against Trump, but also, for example, Mike Pence, Asa Hutchinson, and so on.
The anti-Trump camp would unravel.
Only Trump could then build on a secure fan base in almost all states - namely about the 33 percent from the polls (see above) who forgive him everything.
As long as those staunchest followers stand by him, that might be enough for him to win.
Competition among Republicans: DeSantis far ahead of Trump in polls
What to do with the Patriots?
The possible relocation of American Patriot air defense systems to the Ukraine is also reviving the debate about arms deliveries in Germany.
Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) made it clear in his government statement in the Bundestag that Germany would continue to provide military support to Ukraine.
However, he did not name any specific weapon systems.
According to media reports, the United States is considering delivering Patriot air defense systems to Kyiv.
As has been heard, the training of the Ukrainians could take place on the systems at the US base in Grafenwoehr in Bavaria.
Germany also wants to provide such a system, but it should go to Poland.
The NATO partner Slovakia is already being supported by the Bundeswehr with such a system as part of the defense of the alliance.
This again raises the question of whether Germany shouldn't bring its Patriot systems to Ukraine right away.
They will certainly be needed there in view of the brutal Russian rocket attacks.
However, Berlin is still not really open to the idea of a direct Patriot delivery to the Ukraine.
Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht
(SPD) pointed out that Germany is already making a contribution to air defense in Ukraine - with the Gepard tank and the Iris-T system.
"This is our backup," she said.
Let's see how long this line can be sustained.
Recent developments:
Kremlin threatens to attack US patriot systems, Ukraine reports of child torture chamber
You can find more news and background information on the war in Ukraine here:
NATO countries are increasing their budgets by almost a third:
According to NATO Secretary General Stoltenberg, people can only be offered security in a more dangerous world if they work together.
In 2023, Allianz’s joint expenditures should increase – and significantly so.
"This is where the girls used to put on their make-up":
the Russian troops have been expelled, the first residents are returning to the village of Posad-Pokrowske in the Cherson region.
The houses have been destroyed, the remains of ammunition lie in the fields.
And it is cold.
The video.
'We weren't allowed to transport a boy with a gunshot wound.
He died«:
Here the Doctors Without Borders boss describes how his work is being hindered – and why money is not the problem.
EU summit discusses war in Ukraine and corruption
The heads of state and government of the European Union meet today in Brussels for a summit.
There's a lot to talk about.
Of course, the war in Ukraine and its consequences are at the forefront,
for example measures against the energy crisis such as the still controversial gas price cap.
Negotiations on this issue are deadlocked.
The relationship with the USA should also be discussed.
As is well known, there have been disagreements between Brussels and Washington on economic issues.
The EU accuses the government of US President Joe Biden of favoring the domestic economy with new subsidy programs and distorting competition.
And the heads of state and government cannot ignore one issue either:
the corruption scandal surrounding MP
Eva Kaili,
which is a burden on the European Parliament.
It is said that the President of Parliament
Roberta Metsola
wants to discuss possible consequences of the affair with the other participants at the beginning of the summit.
Corruption scandal in the EU Parliament: Cash found – Kaili blames unknown third parties
Here is the current quiz of the day
The starting question today: Who was elected President of the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution in November 2018?
Winner of the day...
… is
Wolfgang Schäuble
.
The 80-year-old will be honored in the Bundestag today for a record.
He has been a Member of Parliament for 50 years.
What is particularly impressive about Schäuble is the amount of political experience he has accumulated over the course of his life.
He was not only a member of parliament, parliamentary group leader and CDU chairman, but also head of the chancellery, interior minister, finance minister and finally president of the Bundestag.
(Did I forget an office?)
When Schäuble speaks, he has something to say.
It's a pleasure to listen to him, because not only can he formulate brilliantly, but he also speaks the wisdom of old age.
Like everyone who lives long and works a lot, Schäuble has made mistakes.
The CDU donation affair was a low point.
He never achieved the most important office, that of chancellor, because of this affair.
It has often been said and it is very true: Wolfgang Schäuble is the best Federal Chancellor that Germany has never had.
The country owes him a lot.
The latest news from the night
Labor Minister Heil calls increasing the retirement age "wrong and unfair":
He also calls for more jobs for over 60-year-olds.
Federal government spends almost 33 million euros on energy saving campaign:
The CSU speaks of "expensive window dressing".
“It was a great, great honor for me.
Bye and bye«:
He was the distinctive voice of ZDF at ten World Cups, now Béla Réthy commented on his last game.
He said goodbye to the audience with personal words.
The SPIEGEL + recommendations for today
The sheer madness:
Since September, superfluous lights should remain switched off, which regulates the energy saving ordinance.
Hardly anyone sticks to it - and nobody checks.
Economics Minister Habeck wants to extend the regulation anyway.
How nuclear material from Emsland will get to China in the future:
uranium fuel rods from a factory in Lingen have been able to end up in China via a detour since December.
Opponents of nuclear power are appalled.
What is behind the deliveries?
Crimes without consequences:
Previously unknown documents show how brutally the Chinese leadership persecutes Uyghurs and imprisons them en masse.
But there was no outcry in the Islamic world.
Why is Beijing getting away with this?
»Some missions haunt me, I suffer from flashbacks«:
As chief emergency doctor, Armin Sablewski decides on life and death in the event of fires, epidemics and accidents.
Here he reveals which serious injuries he treats first and how he copes with the pressure.
genius or scammer?
A 19-year-old surprisingly defeated world champion Magnus Carlsen this year, triggering the biggest chess fraud scandal in years – including a $100 million lawsuit.
I wish you a good start into the day.
Yours, Roland Nelles
