Germany news: Bundestag honors its late ex-president
Deutsche Welle
February 24, 2026
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Germany's Bundestag recently honored Rita Süssmuth, a late former president, with a state memorial ceremony following her passing earlier this month. Meanwhile, a study revealed that while Germany's gender pay gap is narrowing, it remains significant, reflecting ongoing disparities in the job market. Additionally, German businesses are showing improved confidence in exports, according to a report by the ifo Institute. The Export Expectations index rose to 2.6 points in February, up from -0.8 points in January, signaling optimism across sectors like electronics and automotive manufacturing. However, the chemical sector remains cautious, with expectations of declining exports.
The improved export sentiment is attributed to a "tailwind" effect as businesses navigate a new year. Timo Wollmershäuser, head of forecasts at ifo, noted that while there are signs of recovery, it's still early and uncertain, especially with recent U.S. Supreme Court rulings invalidating some tariffs imposed by former President Donald Trump. This could lead to renewed uncertainty among exporters.
In another development, Björn Höcke, a senior leader of the far-right AfD party, faced mass protests during his tour of North Rhine-Westphalia. Thousands turned out in Düsseldorf and Dortmund to oppose him, highlighting the growing public backlash against the party's extremist views. The AfD, currently Germany's largest opposition force, is under investigation by domestic intelligence services for its extremist ideologies.
Meanwhile, Heiner Wilmer, the Catholic bishop of Hildesheim, was elected as the new chairman of the German Bishops' Conference (DBK), succeeding Georg Bätzing after six years in the role. Wilmer, known for his progressive stance on issues like
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Originally published on Deutsche Welle on 2/24/2026