Germany in April 2026: the most important developments in politics
Germany's governing coalition of the CDU/CSU and SPD spent April in open disputes. A poll found Chancellor Friedrich Merz more unpopular than ever, and the coalition entered a critical final week over welfare and health reform. The parties disagreed on fuel price relief, pensions, health insurance and new borrowing. Parliament approved a fuel discount and relief bonus package on 24 April. On 25 April Merz ruled out cuts to statutory pensions, while SPD leader Lars Klingbeil said he was open to new loans because of the Iran crisis.
The Iran war and relations with the United States were the second major theme. After the US and Iran agreed a two-week ceasefire on 8 April, Merz said Germany had resumed diplomatic talks with Iran. On 28 April he said Iran was humiliating the US, Trump replied that Merz did not know what he was talking about, and Merz said his personal relationship with Trump remained good. Reza Pahlavi, son of Iran's last Shah, visited Berlin in the week of 23 April and called for a change of government in Iran. European leaders met in Paris on security in the Strait of Hormuz, where France and Germany differed on Europe's role.
The AfD became the strongest party in a ZDF poll for the first time on 17 April, and another poll on 26 April put it at 28 percent, ahead of the CDU/CSU. Its Saxony-Anhalt branch adopted an election program ahead of the September state election, and reports discussed whether it could govern alone there. The party also faced internal strife, including the expulsion of Alexander Eichwald, and called for a return to nuclear power.
On security, Germany and Ukraine agreed a 4 billion euro defence package, including Patriot missiles and drone production, on 14 April. Defence Minister Boris Pistorius admitted mistakes in the military service law, and the government suspended the requirement for men under 45 to obtain approval for long stays abroad. Berlin summoned the Russian envoy on 20 April over alleged threats against targets in Germany, and Russia summoned the German envoy on 27 April.
by WorldBrief & Maksim Micheliov | AI-generated summary
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