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Politics

AfD popularity is increasing

In the latest survey, far-right AfD popularity is now at a level with that of conservatives. CDU and AfD recieved 24% votes in the poll conducted by INSA Institute.

What's in the new coalition agreement?

• 😐 End of fast-track path to German citizenship. A 3-year expedited path to German citizenship for "well-integrated" immigrants is abolished. You can still apply for citizenship after 5 years and B1 German proficiency.
• 👍 The dual citizenship law remains.
• We have translated all the German citizenship questions into English and added explanations to make preparing for the German citizenship test fun. You can start learning here.
• No changes in the taxes for now. As you remember, we initially mentioned in our newsletter that SPD proposed increasing the capital gains tax from 25% to 30%. However, this is not in the new proposal anymore.
• The commuter allowance will increase from 30 cents to 38 cents per KM in 2026.
• Deutschland tickets will stay. They will become expensive from 2029.
• You'll recieve a subsidy on electric cars again. So, if you plan to buy one, wait until the subsidy amount is clear.
• 😋 VAT on restaurant food will be reduced from 19% to 7%. Restaurant owners don't necessarily have to pass this reduction on to consumers. However, don't be surprised if you now pay less for your lunch or dinner.
• 😐 The pension level will remain at 48% until 2031. This is insufficient to cover your expenses, especially with high living costs.
• If you continue to work after retirement, you don't pay tax on the first 2000€ of your monthly salary. I am not an expert, but wouldn't it be more beneficial if people working after retirement paid only social security and no taxes or paid the taxes equivalent to what they would have paid on their pension income? I believe this would support the individuals and pension system (as they won't pay the pension but will continue receiving premiums) without affecting tax revenue. What do you think?

Trump tariffs

You must have read or heard much about why tariffs are bad for everyone. Here is a different view. It's actually interesting and gets better as the podcast progresses.

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Here is another interesting podcast.

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Did you know?

Maternity protection in Germany

Your employer cannot terminate you if you are pregnant.

Suppose you find out you were pregnant during the termination notice period. In this case also, you are protected by law.

Moreover, the labor law safeguards you even if you miss the three-week deadline to object to the termination.

Don't worry if you get the doctor's appointment after the deadline for filing a lawsuit. You won't lose your right to protection against dismissal.

You should contact your worker's council or lawyer to know your rights. It's usually worth investing 250€ in a lawyer in such matters.

We have partnered with several English-speaking lawyers who can support you with different legal situations. Some of the lawyers even offer free initial consultation. You can book a call with the lawyers here.

Get your prepaid credit back after canceling your SIM card contract

In Germany, you can claim your prepaid credit for three to four years after your mobile phone contract ends. It doesn't matter who canceled the contract: you or your provider.

To get the credit back, you must request it from the provider. You can use our sample letter for this.

Community Shoutouts! 📣

• The stock market will be volatile in the near future. There are many different strategies for dealing with it. However, the basic principle remains the same: buy good businesses at a fair price and stay invested until something changes in the business.
• If you are planning to buy a property in Germany, educate yourself before investing hundreds of thousands of euros. To support you in your buying journey, we have written a book explaining each step, sharing tips, and warning you of common pitfalls.

Whether it's a must-visit place, a life hack, or an inspiring story, we’d love to hear from you.

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