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POLITICS

One in four German families live below poverty line

The number of German families facing destitution is rising, as one out of every four households live below the poverty line, according to a new survey.

Published: 20 April 2008 13:36 CEST
One in four German families live below poverty line
Photo: DPA

At least 26 percent of Germans do not earn enough money to sufficiently support themselves, a significant rise from 13.5 percent in 2003, German magazine Der Spiegel reports in its latest issue.

The survey conducted by the Sozio-ökonomische Panel, or Social Economic Board of Germany, studied the income of specific households between 1984 and 2007, and showed that every fifth German earns less than half of an average citizen’s income.

The German employment ministry made no comment on the figures this weekend, but a spokeswoman said an official report on standards of living will be carried out and presented later this year. Ministers will then discuss the rise in poverty across the country.

The first official German employment and income survey was conducted in 2000, and again in March 2005. Results showed that a total of 11 million Germans were poverty stricken at the end of 2003.

POLITICS

German president decries ‘violence’ in politics after attacks

German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier said Thursday he was worried by the growing trend of violence towards politicians after a series of attacks on lawmakers at work or on the campaign trail.

Published: 23 May 2024 14:29 CEST
German president decries 'violence' in politics after attacks

“We must never get used to violence in the battle of political opinions,” Steinmeier said at an event to mark the 75th anniversary of the German constitution.

The basic law, promulgated in 1949, was a response to Germany’s experience with political violence during World War II, Steinmeier said.

“No one knew better than the mothers and fathers of the constitution how violence undermines a democracy and tears down its foundations,” Steinmeier said.

READ ALSO: ‘Grundgesetz’ – what does Germany’s Basic Law really mean?

The threat of political violence had again reared its head in Germany, the president said.

“We have received news of physical attacks on elected officials and politically active people almost every day,” he said.

“I am deeply concerned about the coarsening of political life in our country.”

READ ALSO: How politically motivated crimes are rising in Germany 

Earlier this month, police arrested a man on suspicion of hitting a former mayor of Berlin in the head during a visit to a public library.

Franziska Giffey, who is now the Berlin state economy minister and a member of Scholz’s Social Democratic Party (SPD), was treated in hospital for light injuries.

Giffey’s assault came just days after a European member of parliament, also from the SPD, had to be hospitalised after four people attacked him while he was out canvassing.

READ ALSO: Why are German politicians facing increasing attacks?

Senior members of the government have also been confronted by angry mobs in recent months, with Economy Minister Robert Habeck blocked from leaving a ferry by a group of protesters.

In his speech, Steinmeier also recalled the politically motivated murder of the conservative politician Walter Luebcke by neo-Nazis in 2019.

“His death is a reminder of how hate can turn into violence,” Steinmeier said.

This week also saw proceedings open against the alleged ringleaders of a group who are said to have planned to storm the German parliament and overthrow the government.

The group of so-called Reichsbuerger, who deny the legitimacy of the modern German republic, allegedly planned to take MPs hostage and had compiled “lists of enemies” to be eliminated, according to prosecutors.

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