Politics German Politics & News

[av405]

Germany has resumed deportations to Afghanistan today, following an agreement with the Taliban. 81 convicted felons were flown to Kabul and handed over to Taliban authorities. 16 further flights are being prepared. (Source)

Of course, the left is screaming bloody murder.

Finally, some sensible decisions on this topic. What did the Taliban get in return?

 

[muck]

Finally, some sensible decisions on this topic. What did the Taliban get in return?

A semblance of international recognition, probably.
The deportees also received some cash to "ease" their resettlement, which was apparently done to ensure that liberal courts could not halt their deportation claiming undue hardship.

 

[NebrHogger]

A semblance of international recognition, probably.
The deportees also received some cash to "ease" their resettlement, which was apparently done to ensure that liberal courts could not halt their deportation claiming undue hardship.

Excellent news! An amendment to that worth considering: anyone convicted of carrying a concealed knife also gets a ride home. Seems like a disproportionate number of stabbers are Afghans.

 

[Ivan le Fou]

A semblance of international recognition, probably.
The deportees also received some cash to "ease" their resettlement, which was apparently done to ensure that liberal courts could not halt their deportation claiming undue hardship.

Have the Talibans made known what they were intending to do with these individuals?

 

[muck]

Apparently not.

 

[muck]

An economic summit held by the Federal Chancellor in Berlin has prompted a pledge of 60 premier corporations to invest more than €630 billion in Germany over the next two years. (Source)

The contrast in style and rhetorics is so interesting to me.
A couple of months ago, Trump celebrated a similar success with much fanfare, and the media were tripping over themselves to kiss his feet and announce that "America is back". In Germany, on the other hand, it's just a group picture and the media are like "oh, and that happened, too". The opposition are even criticising Merz, charging he should've got a better deal.

 

[muck]

German comedian Sebastian Hotz is to stand trial on July 23 for social media posts celebrating the assassination attempt against US president Donald Trump last year. Shortly after the news of the attempt on Trump's life had broken, Hotz took to X, lamenting the fact the gunman had missed. When challenged by some users, he responded "I absolutely love to see fascists die". Later, he defended his choice of words by writing: "No one is forced to feel pity with a fascist, nothing bad will happen from it." The Berlin Public Prosecutor's office accuse Hotz of a violation of Section 140 of the German Penal Code, which outlaws offering rewards or public approval for a felony after the fact. If convicted, Hotz faces a fine or imprisonment. (Source)

Hotz was cleared of all charges today, the court ruling that his comments were "satirical" and protected speech. (Source)

Why is "satire" the go-to excuse nowadays whenever someone writes something stupid (and clearly not satirical) on the internet? Call me fussy, but when I grew up it took a satirist to produce satire …