In Germany, talks are getting underway today to form a coalition government after no party won outright in the country’s general election. The two largest parties – the centre-left SPD, or Social Democrats, and the centre-right CDU – are both expected to start exploratory talks with smaller parties today.
While neither party secured a majority, the Social Democrats edged ahead in Sunday’s vote at 25.7% to the CDU’s 24.1%.
Both parties are in range of forming a government if they can swing two smaller parties to their side – the Greens and the Free Democrats.
While the Greens are expected to favour an SPD government, the Free Democrats are likely to prefer the CDU. However, both parties will be needed to reach a majority in the Bundestag. It’s set to become the first three-party coalition in modern German history.
A fifth party – the far-right wing Alternative for Germany – has been ruled out of a coalition by the other parties despite securing 10% of the vote.
The newly elected parliament has to meet by October 26th, but a new government could take weeks or even months to come together.
In the meantime, Chancellor Angela Merkel is set to remain in power as a caretaker. She is now set to be replaced either by Olaf Scholz of the SPD or Armin Laschet of the CDU.
Poland’s president, Andrzej Duda, appeared on US television last night for an interview with the popular but controversial Fox News host, Tucker Carlson.
The interview, which was filmed during Mr Duda’s visit to the US last week, covered subjects from immigration and refugees to Poland’s family policy.
Questioned by Carlson on his handling of the 2015 refugee crisis and the EU’s proposed policy of disturbing refugees around Europe, the president said that while he did not agree to a quota system, those who wished to seek refuge in Poland would be welcomed.
In response to a question about US President Joe Biden’s comment describing Poland as a „totalitarian regime”, President Duda hit back at what he described as „lies” about Poland spread by the opposition.
President Duda went on to discuss the crisis on the border with Belarus and the government’s flagship welfare policy, 500+.
Mr Carlson also if Poland „had troubles” with organisations funded by George Soros – the Hungarian-American billionaire who is the centre of far-right conspiracy theories in the US.
Tucker Carlson is one of America’s most controversial TV hosts and has been known to discuss fringe conspiracies. However, his Fox News show remains popular and is currently the most-watched cable news show in the US.
Read and watch the interview in full >>>HERE.
In Gdansk, new figures from the city government show less than half of secondary school students now attend religion classes in school.
The statistics, seen by Radio Gdansk, were obtained in an information request by a member of the Gdansk Youth City Council.
According to the figures, 48.5% of students in public secondary school are attending religious education this year, down from 52.1% in the last academic year.
Around 2.5% of students opted for the alternative ethics classes, up slightly from last year, but 49% chose to attend neither ethics nor religion – up from 45.8% last year.
Religion classes in Polish schools, which focus mainly on Roman Catholicism, are optional. Students can instead choose to study ethics – focusing on personal reflection and society – or to refuse both classes.
Yesterday marked the 82nd anniversary of the founding of the Gray Ranks – the Second World War resistance movement formed out of scouting organisations that fought inside Poland against Nazi German occupation.
The day was marked in Gdansk with a wreath-laying ceremony at the monument to the Polish Underground State with a speech by one of the last surviving members of the Gray Ranks, professor Jerzy Grzywacz.
Professor Grzywacz described the fear and uncertainty that came with being a scout of the Gray Ranks and not knowing if he would return home each day. He finished by encouraging young people to appreciate the peace of today and wished them a „creative and beautiful life”.
Remaining mostly cloudy throughout this afternoon and into the evening with temperatures reaching a mild 16°C, 60°F.
No rain expected today, though some moderate, gusty wind at times.
Tomorrow looking largely the same, though with a chance for some sunnier spells.
RGen/TH
