Skip next section Social Democrats approve coalition deal with conservatives, sources say
04/30/2025April 30, 2025
Social Democrats approve coalition deal with conservatives, sources say
Germany’s has approved a coalition agreement with the conservatives, sources close to the party said.
In the vote, which ended just before midnight on Tuesday, 84% of participating members voted in favor of the deal, according to the reports.
This is more than the 66% in the last membership vote to form a government with the CDU/CSU bloc in 2017.
Voter turnout in the two-week period was 56%, the sources said. A minimum of 20% of members needed to take part in the vote for it to be valid.
https://p.dw.com/p/4tktG
Skip next section Mercedes-Benz profit falls 43% on lower sales
04/30/2025April 30, 2025
Mercedes-Benz profit falls 43% on lower sales
Weighed down by , German luxury carmaker reported a sharp drop in earnings at the start of 2025.
The company reported a 43% year-on-year drop in first-quarter net profit to €1.73 billion ($1.96 billion).
Revenue fell 7.3% to 33.2 billion yuan due to a global decline in vehicle sales. Operating profit fell nearly 41% to €2.29 billion, reflecting ongoing market challenges.
Mercedes-Benz also warned of a potentially significant impact on profitability from .
However, the company said it remains difficult to assess the exact impact on demand due to the evolving situation and possible retaliatory measures.
https://p.dw.com/p/4tklb
Skip next section Volkswagen posts 41% drop in first-quarter profit
04/30/2025April 30, 2025
Volkswagen posts 41% drop in first-quarter profit
German automaker reported a steep drop in first-quarter profit. The company cited heavy one-time charges and a weaker performance in China.
Europe’s largest automaker posted a nearly 41% year-on-year drop in profit to €2.19 billion ($2.49 billion) for the first three months of 2025.
While group revenues rose nearly 3% to €77.6 billion, several headwinds weighed on the bottom line.
In addition to previously announced multi-billion-dollar special charges, Volkswagen earned significantly less from its joint ventures in China, a key market. Losses also worsened in the battery division.
Volkswagen reaffirmed its outlook for the year, although the forecast does not yet take into account the potential impact of new .
https://p.dw.com/p/4tklE
Skip next section SPD is set to reveal coalition deal vote result
04/30/2025April 30, 2025
SPD is set to reveal coalition deal vote result
Germany’s on Wednesday will announce the result of a membership vote on a coalition deal with the conservative bloc of and its Bavarian sister party, the .
Since the parties have already signed the coalition agreement, the approval of the new government depends on the SPD’s party base.
The SPD’s roughly 358,000 members had until 23:59 (2159 GMT) on Tuesday to vote on the 144-page agreement.
To pass, not only must a majority of members approve the program, but at least 20% of the party’s membership must vote.
If the SPD approves the deal, the CDU’s will be elected chancellor by parliament on May 6.
https://p.dw.com/p/4tklB
Skip next section Welcome to our Germany coverage04/30/2025April 30, 2025
Welcome to our Germany coverage
Thank you for joining our coverage of news in on Wednesday, 30 April.
The process to secure Germany’s next government appears to be coming to a close with one part of the coalition, the center-left to give (or not) the final green light to the 144-page coalition agreement.
SPD members voted on Tuesday, with results expected on Wednesday, after the / (CDU/CSU) bloc gave their approval on Monday.
Chancellor ‘s cabinet will meet on Wednesday for what is expected to be its last session. The outgoing chancellor will then travel to Paris for a meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron.
We’re also looking forward to the German inflation and unemployment figures for April.
https://p.dw.com/p/4tkj3
The post Germany’s new government clears final hurdle with SPD vote appeared first on Deutsche Welle.
