Overview
- The federal cabinet agreed a limited Pflege package that tightens eligibility rules and delays sweeping structural reform by establishing a new expert commission to work out long‑term changes.
- The SPD resisted the deal and is pushing for protections such as an automatic cost‑cap and contributions from private care insurers before it will fully back the measures.
- Local officials and care providers warned the planned cuts could immediately reduce support for thousands of people receiving care at home, with Hersfeld‑Rotenburg officials saying 9,574 registered care‑dependent residents may be affected.
- Berlin’s recent victory for Die Linke has sharpened political tensions, prompted police‑union warnings that other states are offering incentives to recruit Berlin officers, and fuelled heated media and talkshow exchanges in which party figures defended against accusations of antisemitism and criminal ties.
- State governments are stepping up enforcement on organised misuse of welfare benefits, with Hesse reporting 36 executed arrest warrants, 227 charges and about €2.2 million in seized assets from recent coordinated operations.