http://www.dw.de/dw/0,,3217,00.html?maca=en-podcast_people-and-politics-2941-xml-mrss DW's political magazine supplies the stories behind the news: reports, analysis, in-depth background on political developments of the day. en 2012 DW.DE, Deutsche Welle Wed, 16 May 2012 20:35:06 GMT Wed, 16 May 2012 20:35:06 GMT http://www.dw.de/image/0,,4074996_10,00.jpg http://www.dw.de/dw/0,,3217,00.html?maca=en-podcast_people-and-politics-2941-xml-mrss no clean DW.DE | Deutsche Welle DW.DE | Deutsche Welle podcasts@dw.de DW's political magazine supplies the stories behind the news: reports, analysis, in-depth background on political developments of the day. DW's political magazine supplies the stories behind the news: reports, analysis, in-depth background on political developments of the day. 30 http://www.dw.de/dw/episode/0,,15896904,00.html?maca=en-podcast_people-and-politics-2941-xml-mrss#15936416 http://www.dw.de/dw/episode/0,,15896904,00.html?maca=en-podcast_people-and-politics-2941-xml-mrss#15936416 Germany’s most populous state goes to the polls on Sunday. Essentially there’s one big issue at stake: down with debt!The Social Democrats (led by Hannelore Kraft, current state premier) and Christian Democrats (led by Norbert Röttgen) are fighting over state government finances. Most voters, however, do not seem that bothered. They seem to making their choice based on the leading party figures as opposed to current issues. People and Politics DW.DE | Deutsche Welle clean 05:29 Thu, 10 May 2012 22:30:00 GMT http://www.dw.de/dw/episode/0,,15896904,00.html?maca=en-podcast_people-and-politics-2941-xml-mrss#15936418 http://www.dw.de/dw/episode/0,,15896904,00.html?maca=en-podcast_people-and-politics-2941-xml-mrss#15936418 What do Germans think about a potential boycott of the soccer European Championships in the Ukraine? Over 70 percent are against the chancellor visiting the event. But they do want the German team to compete. People and Politics DW.DE | Deutsche Welle clean 01:52 Thu, 10 May 2012 22:30:00 GMT http://www.dw.de/dw/episode/0,,15896904,00.html?maca=en-podcast_people-and-politics-2941-xml-mrss#15936417 http://www.dw.de/dw/episode/0,,15896904,00.html?maca=en-podcast_people-and-politics-2941-xml-mrss#15936417 The alliance of Angela Merkel and Nicolas Sarkozy (dubbed "Merkozy") is over. On May 6, French voters made Francois Hollande their new president.He and German Chancellor Angela Merkel have very different views on EU policy. Hollande has said he'll seek renegotiation of the European fiscal compact with the goal of fostering economic growth, not just austerity. Will the EU engine now start to splutter? Or will Merkel and Hollande join forces after all to form "Merklande"? People and Politics DW.DE | Deutsche Welle clean 04:46 Thu, 10 May 2012 22:30:00 GMT http://www.dw.de/dw/episode/0,,15879636,00.html?maca=en-podcast_people-and-politics-2941-xml-mrss#15918277 http://www.dw.de/dw/episode/0,,15879636,00.html?maca=en-podcast_people-and-politics-2941-xml-mrss#15918277 The number of people with foreign roots who apply for German citizenship has decreased steadily in recent years. Now Hamburg's mayor Olaf Scholz wants to reverse that tend. He is encouraging people in the northern German port city to become German citizens. The Bavarian CSU is opposed to the idea, saying German citizenship is something to be valued. People and Politics DW.DE | Deutsche Welle clean 05:33 Thu, 3 May 2012 22:30:00 GMT http://www.dw.de/dw/episode/0,,15879636,00.html?maca=en-podcast_people-and-politics-2941-xml-mrss#15918276 http://www.dw.de/dw/episode/0,,15879636,00.html?maca=en-podcast_people-and-politics-2941-xml-mrss#15918276 The CDU and the SPD are neck-and-neck in the countdown to the state elections in Schleswig-Holstein. But could the Pirate party rock the boat? Experts are predicting a coalition between the SPD and the CDU. A report by Sylvia Wassermann People and Politics DW.DE | Deutsche Welle clean 05:44 Thu, 3 May 2012 22:30:00 GMT http://www.dw.de/dw/episode/0,,15879636,00.html?maca=en-podcast_people-and-politics-2941-xml-mrss#15918275 http://www.dw.de/dw/episode/0,,15879636,00.html?maca=en-podcast_people-and-politics-2941-xml-mrss#15918275 The majority of Germans are opposed to the child care payment scheme. People and Politics DW.DE | Deutsche Welle clean 01:44 Thu, 3 May 2012 22:30:00 GMT http://www.dw.de/dw/episode/0,,15872501,00.html?maca=en-podcast_people-and-politics-2941-xml-mrss#15907637 http://www.dw.de/dw/episode/0,,15872501,00.html?maca=en-podcast_people-and-politics-2941-xml-mrss#15907637 Who is endangering peace in the Middle East? People and Politics DW.DE | Deutsche Welle clean 01:54 Thu, 26 Apr 2012 22:30:00 GMT http://www.dw.de/dw/episode/0,,15872501,00.html?maca=en-podcast_people-and-politics-2941-xml-mrss#15907635 http://www.dw.de/dw/episode/0,,15872501,00.html?maca=en-podcast_people-and-politics-2941-xml-mrss#15907635 Last year, the Green Party appeared to have established itself as the third-most powerful political force in Germany. Baden-Württemberg even elected Germany's first Green Party state premier. In recent months, though, their fortunes appear to be fading.Now that the government has decided to phase out nuclear power, the Greens have lost a central plank in their platform, and the Pirate Party is also luring away many of their long-time supporters. Is the Green Party in permanent decline? People and Politics DW.DE | Deutsche Welle clean 04:52 Thu, 26 Apr 2012 22:30:00 GMT http://www.dw.de/dw/episode/0,,15846663,00.html?maca=en-podcast_people-and-politics-2941-xml-mrss#15887979 http://www.dw.de/dw/episode/0,,15846663,00.html?maca=en-podcast_people-and-politics-2941-xml-mrss#15887979 Once again, the German government has called a conference on Islam. But what is life actually like for immigrant communities in Germany? How do the different generations view life here today? A report on a family of Turkish descent in Berlin. People and Politics DW.DE | Deutsche Welle clean 05:40 Thu, 19 Apr 2012 22:30:00 GMT http://www.dw.de/dw/episode/0,,15846663,00.html?maca=en-podcast_people-and-politics-2941-xml-mrss#15887978 http://www.dw.de/dw/episode/0,,15846663,00.html?maca=en-podcast_people-and-politics-2941-xml-mrss#15887978 Do German dog owners need to be licensed? People and Politics DW.DE | Deutsche Welle clean 02:57 Thu, 19 Apr 2012 22:30:00 GMT http://www.dw.de/dw/episode/0,,15846663,00.html?maca=en-podcast_people-and-politics-2941-xml-mrss#15887977 http://www.dw.de/dw/episode/0,,15846663,00.html?maca=en-podcast_people-and-politics-2941-xml-mrss#15887977 Severe injuries, deadly attacks: time and again, especially in Berlin, with its many dog lovers, there have been serious incidents involving dogs.Local politicians now want to put the canines’ owners on a tighter leash. The coalition agreement between the SPD and CDU calls for the introduction of a dog owner’s license. People and Politics DW.DE | Deutsche Welle clean 04:46 Thu, 19 Apr 2012 22:30:00 GMT http://www.dw.de/dw/episode/0,,15846663,00.html?maca=en-podcast_people-and-politics-2941-xml-mrss#15887975 http://www.dw.de/dw/episode/0,,15846663,00.html?maca=en-podcast_people-and-politics-2941-xml-mrss#15887975 The FDP is at a low point, with nationwide support hovering around 2 percent. And the prognosis isn’t good for the two forthcoming state elections either.In North Rhine-Westphalia and Schleswig-Holstein, the Free Democrats’ top candidates will have to fight hard to re-enter parliament at all. For FDP leader Philipp Rösler, the elections are a litmus test. People and Politics DW.DE | Deutsche Welle clean 05:30 Thu, 19 Apr 2012 22:30:00 GMT http://www.dw.de/dw/episode/0,,15846663,00.html?maca=en-podcast_people-and-politics-2941-xml-mrss#15887976 http://www.dw.de/dw/episode/0,,15846663,00.html?maca=en-podcast_people-and-politics-2941-xml-mrss#15887976 They’ve experienced the horrors of war, been wounded in Afghanistan, shot, or lured into booby traps by the Taliban.More and more often, members of the German armed forces are being wounded while on deployment abroad. The Bundeswehr’s sports school in Warendorf gives wounded soldiers rehab treatment to make them fit for life after recovery. People and Politics DW.DE | Deutsche Welle clean 05:40 Thu, 19 Apr 2012 22:30:00 GMT http://www.dw.de/dw/episode/0,,15832358,00.html?maca=en-podcast_people-and-politics-2941-xml-mrss#15874236 http://www.dw.de/dw/episode/0,,15832358,00.html?maca=en-podcast_people-and-politics-2941-xml-mrss#15874236 The stories of abuse in children’s homes in West Germany in the 1950s and 1960s are nothing new - but now the maltreatment and exploitation of institutionalized children in the former communist East is now also coming to light.The government has decided to set up a compensation fund for people who were subjected to beatings, forced showers and other forms of humiliation in the latter. For many victims, however, the memories of that misery will haunt them forever. People and Politics DW.DE | Deutsche Welle clean 04:56 Thu, 12 Apr 2012 22:30:00 GMT http://www.dw.de/dw/episode/0,,15832358,00.html?maca=en-podcast_people-and-politics-2941-xml-mrss#15874233 http://www.dw.de/dw/episode/0,,15832358,00.html?maca=en-podcast_people-and-politics-2941-xml-mrss#15874233 What do Germans think of Günter Grass’s opinions? According to a survey in the Financial Times Deutschland, a majority agree with the ideas Grass has put forward. People and Politics DW.DE | Deutsche Welle clean 01:44 Thu, 12 Apr 2012 22:30:00 GMT http://www.dw.de/dw/episode/0,,15832358,00.html?maca=en-podcast_people-and-politics-2941-xml-mrss#15874232 http://www.dw.de/dw/episode/0,,15832358,00.html?maca=en-podcast_people-and-politics-2941-xml-mrss#15874232 Nobel literature laureate Günter Grass unleashed a storm of protest after publishing a poem accusing Israel of endangering world peace - and of planning a nuclear strike against Iran.A writer harshly criticizing the government of Israel, a close political partner of his native Germany. What are the limits of artistic license? And what role do artists play in today’s political arena? People and Politics DW.DE | Deutsche Welle clean 04:47 Thu, 12 Apr 2012 22:30:00 GMT http://www.dw.de/dw/episode/0,,15821492,00.html?maca=en-podcast_people-and-politics-2941-xml-mrss#15857309 http://www.dw.de/dw/episode/0,,15821492,00.html?maca=en-podcast_people-and-politics-2941-xml-mrss#15857309 What to Germans think about the Solidarity Pact? People and Politics DW.DE | Deutsche Welle clean 01:56 Thu, 5 Apr 2012 22:30:00 GMT http://www.dw.de/dw/episode/0,,15821492,00.html?maca=en-podcast_people-and-politics-2941-xml-mrss#15857308 http://www.dw.de/dw/episode/0,,15821492,00.html?maca=en-podcast_people-and-politics-2941-xml-mrss#15857308 After German reunification, the Solidarity Pact gave the former east a financial boost. Thanks to the cash infusion, the coffers of many local authorities there are full. In western Germany, meanwhile, many municipalities are deeply in debt and struggling to maintain a crumbling infrastructure. They're now arguing that it's time to bring the solidarity package to an early end. We take a look at two communities, one on each side of the issue (and the old border): Mülheim an der Ruhr and Halle an der Saale. People and Politics DW.DE | Deutsche Welle clean 05:34 Thu, 5 Apr 2012 22:30:00 GMT http://www.dw.de/dw/episode/0,,15821492,00.html?maca=en-podcast_people-and-politics-2941-xml-mrss#15857306 http://www.dw.de/dw/episode/0,,15821492,00.html?maca=en-podcast_people-and-politics-2941-xml-mrss#15857306 The recent elections in Burma saw the party of opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi win almost all the seats. International observers have said the elections were free and fair. The German government’s commissioner for human rights was in Burma to monitor events. He is calling for the international sanctions to be lifted in order to help the country on its path to democracy. People and Politics DW.DE | Deutsche Welle clean 05:45 Thu, 5 Apr 2012 22:30:00 GMT http://www.dw.de/dw/episode/0,,15821492,00.html?maca=en-podcast_people-and-politics-2941-xml-mrss#15857307 http://www.dw.de/dw/episode/0,,15821492,00.html?maca=en-podcast_people-and-politics-2941-xml-mrss#15857307 Around 12,000 people in Germany are currently waiting for an organ transplant. Because of the shortage of donors, every year around 2,000 people die while on the waiting list. Now Germany is planning a new law that it hopes will prompt more people to consent to donation.They are also planning to require hospitals to appoint a transplant liaison to help inform family members about organ donation. People and Politics DW.DE | Deutsche Welle clean 04:40 Thu, 5 Apr 2012 22:30:00 GMT http://www.dw.de/dw/episode/0,,15797782,00.html?maca=en-podcast_people-and-politics-2941-xml-mrss#15841052 http://www.dw.de/dw/episode/0,,15797782,00.html?maca=en-podcast_people-and-politics-2941-xml-mrss#15841052 One year ago, Winfried Kretschmann was elected Baden-Württemberg's new state premier—the first Green Party member to hold this office in Germany. We take a look at how he’s fared in a state that’s traditionally been a Christian Democrat stronghold. People and Politics DW.DE | Deutsche Welle clean 06:02 Thu, 29 Mar 2012 22:30:00 GMT http://www.dw.de/dw/episode/0,,15797782,00.html?maca=en-podcast_people-and-politics-2941-xml-mrss#15841050 http://www.dw.de/dw/episode/0,,15797782,00.html?maca=en-podcast_people-and-politics-2941-xml-mrss#15841050 Even if Germany succeeds with its plan for a nuclear phase-out, the problem of nuclear waste will remain. Thus far, spent fuel rods have been stored in ordinary warehouses, even though underground storage would be safer. For many years, the salt dome at Gorleben was under consideration as a nuclear waste repository, but now Norbert Röttgen, Germany’s Environment Minister, has raised concerns about the plan. People and Politics DW.DE | Deutsche Welle clean 05:09 Thu, 29 Mar 2012 22:30:00 GMT http://www.dw.de/dw/episode/0,,15797782,00.html?maca=en-podcast_people-and-politics-2941-xml-mrss#15841048 http://www.dw.de/dw/episode/0,,15797782,00.html?maca=en-podcast_people-and-politics-2941-xml-mrss#15841048 The Pirate Party rejects most traditional political designations: right and left, liberal and conservative. The established parties look fusty by comparison, and that’s proving a recipe for success. After their surprise showing in Berlin, the Pirate Party has now won enough votes to join the Saarland state parliament. People and Politics DW.DE | Deutsche Welle clean 05:36 Thu, 29 Mar 2012 22:30:00 GMT http://www.dw.de/dw/episode/0,,15797782,00.html?maca=en-podcast_people-and-politics-2941-xml-mrss#15841049 http://www.dw.de/dw/episode/0,,15797782,00.html?maca=en-podcast_people-and-politics-2941-xml-mrss#15841049 What do Germans expect from the Pirate Party? People and Politics DW.DE | Deutsche Welle clean 01:59 Thu, 29 Mar 2012 22:30:00 GMT http://www.dw.de/dw/episode/0,,15784089,00.html?maca=en-podcast_people-and-politics-2941-xml-mrss#15822554 http://www.dw.de/dw/episode/0,,15784089,00.html?maca=en-podcast_people-and-politics-2941-xml-mrss#15822554 This weekend the western German state of Saarland is to elect its new parliament. The Social Democrats stand to upset the Christian Democrats in the polls. But the possibility of a coalition between these parties is growing, as both have one goal in common: keeping the Left Party's Oskar Lafontaine out of power. People and Politics DW.DE | Deutsche Welle clean 05:04 Thu, 22 Mar 2012 22:30:00 GMT http://www.dw.de/dw/episode/0,,15784089,00.html?maca=en-podcast_people-and-politics-2941-xml-mrss#15822552 http://www.dw.de/dw/episode/0,,15784089,00.html?maca=en-podcast_people-and-politics-2941-xml-mrss#15822552 The majority of Germans want to see ISAF troops pull out early: Fifty-seven percent say the soldiers should leave Afghanistan before 2014. People and Politics DW.DE | Deutsche Welle clean 01:18 Thu, 22 Mar 2012 22:30:00 GMT http://www.dw.de/dw/episode/0,,15757419,00.html?maca=en-podcast_people-and-politics-2941-xml-mrss#15791241 http://www.dw.de/dw/episode/0,,15757419,00.html?maca=en-podcast_people-and-politics-2941-xml-mrss#15791241 They were spied upon, intimidated and tortured. Just over a year ago, Tunisia’s opposition ousted Zine El Abidine Ben Ali along with the dictator’s repressive institutions. Now Tunisian human rights activists are paying a visit to Berlin to learn about how Germany deals with the legacy of the former East Germany’s Stasi past. People and Politics DW.DE | Deutsche Welle clean 05:31 Thu, 8 Mar 2012 22:30:00 GMT http://www.dw.de/dw/episode/0,,15757419,00.html?maca=en-podcast_people-and-politics-2941-xml-mrss#15791239 http://www.dw.de/dw/episode/0,,15757419,00.html?maca=en-podcast_people-and-politics-2941-xml-mrss#15791239 Should there be a quota for women in senior management? People and Politics DW.DE | Deutsche Welle clean 01:23 Thu, 8 Mar 2012 22:30:00 GMT http://www.dw.de/dw/episode/0,,15757419,00.html?maca=en-podcast_people-and-politics-2941-xml-mrss#15791238 http://www.dw.de/dw/episode/0,,15757419,00.html?maca=en-podcast_people-and-politics-2941-xml-mrss#15791238 There are few women at the helm of German companies. Fewer than 5 percent of Germany’s blue-chip corporations are headed by women. German politicians have repeatedly called for change, but women still face many obstacles on the road to the top. We report on companies where women have broken the glass ceiling into senior management. People and Politics DW.DE | Deutsche Welle clean 04:59 Thu, 8 Mar 2012 22:30:00 GMT http://www.dw.de/dw/episode/0,,15733522,00.html?maca=en-podcast_people-and-politics-2941-xml-mrss#15777648 http://www.dw.de/dw/episode/0,,15733522,00.html?maca=en-podcast_people-and-politics-2941-xml-mrss#15777648 German Chancellor Angela Merkel wants to talk to the citizens. She's called "Meetings at Town Hall" to talk to ordinary Germans about the future and the problems and issues they're currently facing. This report comes from the debut meeting in Erfurt. People and Politics DW.DE | Deutsche Welle clean 04:26 Thu, 1 Mar 2012 22:30:00 GMT http://www.dw.de/dw/episode/0,,15733522,00.html?maca=en-podcast_people-and-politics-2941-xml-mrss#15777645 http://www.dw.de/dw/episode/0,,15733522,00.html?maca=en-podcast_people-and-politics-2941-xml-mrss#15777645 What do Germans think of the additional billions in funding for Greece? People and Politics DW.DE | Deutsche Welle clean 01:46 Thu, 1 Mar 2012 22:30:00 GMT http://www.dw.de/dw/episode/0,,15728342,00.html?maca=en-podcast_people-and-politics-2941-xml-mrss#15755706 http://www.dw.de/dw/episode/0,,15728342,00.html?maca=en-podcast_people-and-politics-2941-xml-mrss#15755706 Guido Westerwelle took a long time to grow into his job as foreign minister. After his bizarre interpretation of the success of the Libyan revolution, he even had to worry about keeping the post. Now he seems to be finding his way. A report about Germany’s foreign minister on a trip to Latin America. People and Politics DW.DE | Deutsche Welle clean 05:21 Thu, 23 Feb 2012 22:30:00 GMT http://www.dw.de/dw/episode/0,,15728342,00.html?maca=en-podcast_people-and-politics-2941-xml-mrss#15755704 http://www.dw.de/dw/episode/0,,15728342,00.html?maca=en-podcast_people-and-politics-2941-xml-mrss#15755704 Wolfgang Schäuble and the other eurozone finance ministers plan a further 130 billion euros to bail out Greece. German Chancellor Angela Merkel wants to do anything to keep Greece in the eurozone. But resistance is growing, even within her own governing coalition. More and more people fear the money will vanish into a bottomless pit. People and Politics DW.DE | Deutsche Welle clean 05:05 Thu, 23 Feb 2012 22:30:00 GMT http://www.dw.de/dw/episode/0,,15728342,00.html?maca=en-podcast_people-and-politics-2941-xml-mrss#15755703 http://www.dw.de/dw/episode/0,,15728342,00.html?maca=en-podcast_people-and-politics-2941-xml-mrss#15755703 What do Germans expect from the country’s new president? People and Politics DW.DE | Deutsche Welle clean 01:38 Thu, 23 Feb 2012 22:30:00 GMT http://www.dw.de/dw/episode/0,,15710613,00.html?maca=en-podcast_people-and-politics-2941-xml-mrss#6717766 http://www.dw.de/dw/episode/0,,15710613,00.html?maca=en-podcast_people-and-politics-2941-xml-mrss#6717766 An enlightening film by German director Andreas Dresen highlights the workings of politics and democracy. "Henryk from the Back Row" documents a year in the life of Henryk Wichmann, who became a member of parliament in the German state of Brandenburg. The film was very well received at the Berlin International Film Festival.We meet both the protagonist and the director, whose respect for politicians increased immensely during the course of this project. People and Politics DW.DE | Deutsche Welle clean 06:01 Thu, 16 Feb 2012 22:30:00 GMT http://www.dw.de/dw/episode/0,,15710613,00.html?maca=en-podcast_people-and-politics-2941-xml-mrss#6717763 http://www.dw.de/dw/episode/0,,15710613,00.html?maca=en-podcast_people-and-politics-2941-xml-mrss#6717763 Most Germans were all for President Christian Wulff staying in office when the allegations first surfaced. But now it seems the nation’s patience has come to an end. People and Politics DW.DE | Deutsche Welle clean 01:50 Thu, 16 Feb 2012 22:30:00 GMT http://www.dw.de/dw/episode/0,,15677734,00.html?maca=en-podcast_people-and-politics-2941-xml-mrss#15725036 http://www.dw.de/dw/episode/0,,15677734,00.html?maca=en-podcast_people-and-politics-2941-xml-mrss#15725036 With raw materials becoming ever scarcer and more expensive, Germany is looking to maximize potential from its own resources. We take a look at the town of Muldenhammer in Saxony, where there are plans to resume tin mining. Though mining has a long tradition in the area, the treasure hunt is causing some political tension. People and Politics DW.DE | Deutsche Welle clean 04:18 Thu, 9 Feb 2012 22:30:00 GMT http://www.dw.de/dw/episode/0,,15677734,00.html?maca=en-podcast_people-and-politics-2941-xml-mrss#15725034 http://www.dw.de/dw/episode/0,,15677734,00.html?maca=en-podcast_people-and-politics-2941-xml-mrss#15725034 Globalization. The majority of Germans believe in its advantages, even though it can have negative effects - such as noise pollution from busy airports. People and Politics DW.DE | Deutsche Welle clean 01:38 Thu, 9 Feb 2012 22:30:00 GMT http://www.dw.de/dw/episode/0,,15677734,00.html?maca=en-podcast_people-and-politics-2941-xml-mrss#15725033 http://www.dw.de/dw/episode/0,,15677734,00.html?maca=en-podcast_people-and-politics-2941-xml-mrss#15725033 Many residents are already being disturbed by up to 30 planes an hour taking off and landing at Frankfurt Airport. Their anger has been intensified by the plans being drawn up for yet another runway. Politicians are doing their best to resolve the situation; however the public remain unimpressed after seeing many promises broken. People and Politics DW.DE | Deutsche Welle clean 04:44 Thu, 9 Feb 2012 22:30:00 GMT http://www.dw.de/dw/episode/0,,15677734,00.html?maca=en-podcast_people-and-politics-2941-xml-mrss#15725032 http://www.dw.de/dw/episode/0,,15677734,00.html?maca=en-podcast_people-and-politics-2941-xml-mrss#15725032 It is clear that Germany needs to work its way out of considerable debt. The overall picture of the country’s liabilities may seem substantial, but it depends on where in the country you are. Certainly, Berlin is in dire straits, but Bavaria is prospering in comparison. We take a look at these two states to see how they differ in their approach to a balanced budget. People and Politics DW.DE | Deutsche Welle clean 05:52 Thu, 9 Feb 2012 22:30:00 GMT http://www.dw.de/dw/episode/0,,15663694,00.html?maca=en-podcast_people-and-politics-2941-xml-mrss#6708740 http://www.dw.de/dw/episode/0,,15663694,00.html?maca=en-podcast_people-and-politics-2941-xml-mrss#6708740 More and more local authorities in Germany are consulting their residents when it comes to making certain decisions: which swimming pools are to be shut, or which roads need tarmacking first? The democratization of city budgets is becoming increasingly popular. It's a grass-roots approach that is bearing fruit. People and Politics DW.DE | Deutsche Welle clean 05:25 Fri, 3 Feb 2012 04:30:00 GMT http://www.dw.de/dw/episode/0,,15663694,00.html?maca=en-podcast_people-and-politics-2941-xml-mrss#6708742 http://www.dw.de/dw/episode/0,,15663694,00.html?maca=en-podcast_people-and-politics-2941-xml-mrss#6708742 German chemicals giant BASF is closing its biotech division in Germany. The move was prompted by massive resistance to genetically modified food among both the public and politicians. GM opponents are jubilant, while some researchers are complaining this is another case of German hostility to technology. People and Politics DW.DE | Deutsche Welle clean 05:01 Fri, 3 Feb 2012 04:30:00 GMT http://www.dw.de/dw/episode/0,,15663694,00.html?maca=en-podcast_people-and-politics-2941-xml-mrss#6708741 http://www.dw.de/dw/episode/0,,15663694,00.html?maca=en-podcast_people-and-politics-2941-xml-mrss#6708741 Surveys suggest that over 80 percent of Germans want to see more direct democracy. There is also a widespread belief, however, that politicians are not at all interested. People and Politics DW.DE | Deutsche Welle clean 01:32 Fri, 3 Feb 2012 04:30:00 GMT http://www.dw.de/dw/episode/0,,15663694,00.html?maca=en-podcast_people-and-politics-2941-xml-mrss#6708739 http://www.dw.de/dw/episode/0,,15663694,00.html?maca=en-podcast_people-and-politics-2941-xml-mrss#6708739 "Mein Kampf" - Hitler’s infamous manifesto - has not been available in German bookstores since the war. Recently a magazine was to include extracts, albeit accompanied by commentary from a professor. The publisher backed down, however, after the state of Bavaria (the book's copyright holder) threatened legal action. People and Politics DW.DE | Deutsche Welle clean 05:01 Fri, 3 Feb 2012 04:30:00 GMT http://www.dw.de/dw/episode/0,,15663694,00.html?maca=en-podcast_people-and-politics-2941-xml-mrss#6708738 http://www.dw.de/dw/episode/0,,15663694,00.html?maca=en-podcast_people-and-politics-2941-xml-mrss#6708738 Germany’s domestic intelligence agency has the job of combating dangers to the country’s security and democracy, which also involves monitoring extreme right-wing and left-wing groups. But the body has recently come under increasing criticism for failing to detect a right-wing terror cell while at the same time spying on politicians from the Left Party. People and Politics DW.DE | Deutsche Welle clean 05:27 Fri, 3 Feb 2012 04:30:00 GMT http://www.dw.de/dw/episode/0,,15646693,00.html?maca=en-podcast_people-and-politics-2941-xml-mrss#6704737 http://www.dw.de/dw/episode/0,,15646693,00.html?maca=en-podcast_people-and-politics-2941-xml-mrss#6704737 While the center-right Free Democrat Party has been seeing its share of the vote collapse across the country, one town is bucking the trend. Some 42 percent of voters in Eitorf near Cologne plumped for the FDP at the last local election. A report on one of the party’s few bastions of hope. People and Politics DW.DE | Deutsche Welle clean 05:25 Fri, 27 Jan 2012 04:30:00 GMT http://www.dw.de/dw/episode/0,,15646693,00.html?maca=en-podcast_people-and-politics-2941-xml-mrss#6704736 http://www.dw.de/dw/episode/0,,15646693,00.html?maca=en-podcast_people-and-politics-2941-xml-mrss#6704736 The German-American partnership: How much do Germans like Americans these days? People and Politics DW.DE | Deutsche Welle clean 02:07 Fri, 27 Jan 2012 04:30:00 GMT http://www.dw.de/dw/episode/0,,15633049,00.html?maca=en-podcast_people-and-politics-2941-xml-mrss#6701139 http://www.dw.de/dw/episode/0,,15633049,00.html?maca=en-podcast_people-and-politics-2941-xml-mrss#6701139 Germany’s armed forces, the Bundeswehr, is continuing to shrink in size as part of an ongoing reform programme. That also means that fewer and fewer barracks are needed. Often the vast grounds with huge halls are impossible to sell. But in Hohenkirchen in northern Germany, an ingenious entrepreneur is setting up a huge recreational park on the site of the former barracks. People and Politics DW.DE | Deutsche Welle clean 04:33 Fri, 20 Jan 2012 04:30:00 GMT http://www.dw.de/dw/episode/0,,15633049,00.html?maca=en-podcast_people-and-politics-2941-xml-mrss#6701135 http://www.dw.de/dw/episode/0,,15633049,00.html?maca=en-podcast_people-and-politics-2941-xml-mrss#6701135 Never a day seems to pass without German President Christian Wulff facing new accusations, as criticism of his financial affairs and dealings with the media mounts. As more details emerge, members of the conservative governing coalition are beginning to distance themselves from him. Some parliamentarians are even calling for his resignation. People and Politics DW.DE | Deutsche Welle clean 05:04 Fri, 20 Jan 2012 04:30:00 GMT http://www.dw.de/dw/episode/0,,15633049,00.html?maca=en-podcast_people-and-politics-2941-xml-mrss#6701138 http://www.dw.de/dw/episode/0,,15633049,00.html?maca=en-podcast_people-and-politics-2941-xml-mrss#6701138 How Prussian are the Germans? Do classic Prussian virtues still play a role? People and Politics DW.DE | Deutsche Welle clean 01:24 Fri, 20 Jan 2012 04:30:00 GMT http://www.dw.de/dw/episode/0,,15618613,00.html?maca=en-podcast_people-and-politics-2941-xml-mrss#6697504 http://www.dw.de/dw/episode/0,,15618613,00.html?maca=en-podcast_people-and-politics-2941-xml-mrss#6697504 For German interior minister Hans-Peter Friedrich, data retention is an important tool in combating right-wing terrorism. He says storage of telephone details and internet traffic is essential for fighting crime. But that position has put him in direct conflict with his fellow cabinet-member, justice minister Sabine Leutheusser-Schnarrenberger. She sees data retention as a violation of citizens' right to privacy. The longstanding dispute has divided the governing coalition. People and Politics DW.DE | Deutsche Welle clean 04:46 Fri, 13 Jan 2012 04:30:00 GMT http://www.dw.de/dw/episode/0,,15618613,00.html?maca=en-podcast_people-and-politics-2941-xml-mrss#6697503 http://www.dw.de/dw/episode/0,,15618613,00.html?maca=en-podcast_people-and-politics-2941-xml-mrss#6697503 The scandal-hit German president - how much public support does Christian Wulff still have? People and Politics DW.DE | Deutsche Welle clean 02:03 Fri, 13 Jan 2012 04:30:00 GMT http://www.dw.de/dw/episode/0,,15603142,00.html?maca=en-podcast_people-and-politics-2941-xml-mrss#6693261 http://www.dw.de/dw/episode/0,,15603142,00.html?maca=en-podcast_people-and-politics-2941-xml-mrss#6693261 Twenty years ago, the citizens of communist East Germany were for the first time able to view the files kept on them by the Stasi, the dictatorship's secret police. Today these files fill 100 kilometers of shelves. And there are also around 16,000 sacks of documents that Stasi agents shredded by hand. Scientists from the Fraunhofer Institute in Berlin are now constructing a super-computer that can put the fragments back together. The "snippet machine" is attracting interest from all over the world. People and Politics DW.DE | Deutsche Welle clean 05:33 Fri, 6 Jan 2012 04:30:00 GMT http://www.dw.de/dw/episode/0,,15603142,00.html?maca=en-podcast_people-and-politics-2941-xml-mrss#6693260 http://www.dw.de/dw/episode/0,,15603142,00.html?maca=en-podcast_people-and-politics-2941-xml-mrss#6693260 What do the Germans expect from 2012? Surprisingly enough, they are optimistic and embarking on the new year with confidence. People and Politics DW.DE | Deutsche Welle clean 01:48 Fri, 6 Jan 2012 04:30:00 GMT http://www.dw.de/dw/episode/0,,15603142,00.html?maca=en-podcast_people-and-politics-2941-xml-mrss#6693258 http://www.dw.de/dw/episode/0,,15603142,00.html?maca=en-podcast_people-and-politics-2941-xml-mrss#6693258 German President Christian Wulff is in the cross-fire. It has come out that he threatened newspapers in an attempt to bully them out of reporting on a low-interest loan he received from friends. Now support for him is shrinking even within his own party, the Christian Democrats. Many observers say the scandal is damaging the reputation of the office of the President. People and Politics DW.DE | Deutsche Welle clean 04:32 Fri, 6 Jan 2012 04:30:00 GMT http://www.dw.de/dw/episode/0,,15603142,00.html?maca=en-podcast_people-and-politics-2941-xml-mrss#6693259 http://www.dw.de/dw/episode/0,,15603142,00.html?maca=en-podcast_people-and-politics-2941-xml-mrss#6693259 Many countries in the world are holding elections this year, and major changes are in the offing. But in Germany much will remain the same - at least in top political offices. Schleswig-Holstein is the only German state with parliamentary elections slated for this year. And the coalition between the CDU/CSU and the FDP will probably remain at the country's helm. As a result, many of the issues of 2011 will continue to dominate 2012: the stability of the Euro, phasing out nuclear power, Afghanistan, unrest in the coalition, and the loss of trust in the office of the President. People and Politics DW.DE | Deutsche Welle clean 05:05 Fri, 6 Jan 2012 04:30:00 GMT http://www.dw.de/dw/episode/0,,15590758,00.html?maca=en-podcast_people-and-politics-2941-xml-mrss#6690915 http://www.dw.de/dw/episode/0,,15590758,00.html?maca=en-podcast_people-and-politics-2941-xml-mrss#6690915 After the earthquake and tsunami led to meltdowns at Japan's Fukushima nuclear power plant, Germany took an unprecedented step. The government announced it would immediately shut down the country’s oldest atomic power plants, and phase out the rest of them even faster than originally planed.The last one is now scheduled to go off line in 2022. But are the goals workable and realistic? A critical assessment of a controversial decision. People and Politics DW.DE | Deutsche Welle clean 03:56 Fri, 30 Dec 2011 04:30:00 GMT http://www.dw.de/dw/episode/0,,15590758,00.html?maca=en-podcast_people-and-politics-2941-xml-mrss#6690916 http://www.dw.de/dw/episode/0,,15590758,00.html?maca=en-podcast_people-and-politics-2941-xml-mrss#6690916 One of the main tourist attractions in the town of Bad Frankenhausen in Thüringen is a church tower that is even more crooked than the famous tower of Pisa. Last summer "People and Politics" reported how the residents of Bad Frankenhausen were fighting plans to demolish the tower.In December, Germany's Protestant church finally agreed to sell the church to the local community. Now the people of Bad Frankenhausen can hope their steeple will be saved. People and Politics DW.DE | Deutsche Welle clean 03:57 Fri, 30 Dec 2011 04:30:00 GMT http://www.dw.de/dw/episode/0,,15590758,00.html?maca=en-podcast_people-and-politics-2941-xml-mrss#6690913 http://www.dw.de/dw/episode/0,,15590758,00.html?maca=en-podcast_people-and-politics-2941-xml-mrss#6690913 For the euro, 2011 was the year when crisis became the status quo. Bailouts for Ireland, Portugal and - especially - Greece. It was a real test for the euro, and also put pressure on Germany's chancellor. After months of cautious delay, she finally stepped up to save the euro. A chronology of crisis. People and Politics DW.DE | Deutsche Welle clean 04:38 Fri, 30 Dec 2011 04:30:00 GMT http://www.dw.de/dw/episode/0,,15590758,00.html?maca=en-podcast_people-and-politics-2941-xml-mrss#6690912 http://www.dw.de/dw/episode/0,,15590758,00.html?maca=en-podcast_people-and-politics-2941-xml-mrss#6690912 Friction and disagreement in Germany's coalition government, the eurozone crisis, Fukushima and nuclear power, the defense minister resigns, and more. A fast-forward look at a fast-paced year full of political turmoil. People and Politics DW.DE | Deutsche Welle clean 02:30 Fri, 30 Dec 2011 04:30:00 GMT http://www.dw.de/dw/episode/0,,15571025,00.html?maca=en-podcast_people-and-politics-2941-xml-mrss#6686955 http://www.dw.de/dw/episode/0,,15571025,00.html?maca=en-podcast_people-and-politics-2941-xml-mrss#6686955 Elephants standing on their hind legs, bears on the balance beam - all that could soon be history. The Bundesrat, the chamber of Germany's federal states, has voted to ban wild animals from the circus.It said that elephants, bears, giraffes, rhinos, hippos and primates cannot be kept under humane conditions by traveling circuses. Circus operators are up in arms. People and Politics DW.DE | Deutsche Welle clean 04:07 Fri, 23 Dec 2011 04:30:00 GMT http://www.dw.de/dw/episode/0,,15571025,00.html?maca=en-podcast_people-and-politics-2941-xml-mrss#6686956 http://www.dw.de/dw/episode/0,,15571025,00.html?maca=en-podcast_people-and-politics-2941-xml-mrss#6686956 Once a year, all the parties find one voice - when caroling in Germany's parliament, the Bundestag. Political feuds are laid aside. Harmony among all lawmakers, across the political spectrum - and the tunes are pretty, too. People and Politics DW.DE | Deutsche Welle clean 02:29 Fri, 23 Dec 2011 04:30:00 GMT http://www.dw.de/dw/episode/0,,15571025,00.html?maca=en-podcast_people-and-politics-2941-xml-mrss#6686953 http://www.dw.de/dw/episode/0,,15571025,00.html?maca=en-podcast_people-and-politics-2941-xml-mrss#6686953 The family is still very important in Germany, say 75% of respondents to a new survey. People and Politics DW.DE | Deutsche Welle clean 01:27 Fri, 23 Dec 2011 04:30:00 GMT http://www.dw.de/dw/episode/0,,15571025,00.html?maca=en-podcast_people-and-politics-2941-xml-mrss#6686952 http://www.dw.de/dw/episode/0,,15571025,00.html?maca=en-podcast_people-and-politics-2941-xml-mrss#6686952 Is money really everything in family policy? No! That's the conclusion reached by a new report by Germany's Minister for Family Affairs Kristina Schröder. Parents say more time is far more important.The study shows that more than 40 percent of all parents with underage children often or always have too little time for their families. We illustrate those problems by visiting a family with two children in Berlin. People and Politics DW.DE | Deutsche Welle clean 04:32 Fri, 23 Dec 2011 04:30:00 GMT http://www.dw.de/dw/episode/0,,15552936,00.html?maca=en-podcast_people-and-politics-2941-xml-mrss#6681814 http://www.dw.de/dw/episode/0,,15552936,00.html?maca=en-podcast_people-and-politics-2941-xml-mrss#6681814 Are cyclists and motorists considerate of one another on the road? People and Politics DW.DE | Deutsche Welle clean 01:25 Fri, 16 Dec 2011 04:30:00 GMT http://www.dw.de/dw/episode/0,,15552936,00.html?maca=en-podcast_people-and-politics-2941-xml-mrss#6681815 http://www.dw.de/dw/episode/0,,15552936,00.html?maca=en-podcast_people-and-politics-2941-xml-mrss#6681815 The Cold War is history, but former members of the Warsaw Pact and their NATO counterparts are still inspecting one anothers' weapons arsenals. The Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe (CFE) set rules on disarmament for the two sides. People & Politics met up with inspectors from Ukraine, who were in Germany to make sure Berlin adheres to those regulations. People and Politics DW.DE | Deutsche Welle clean 06:08 Fri, 16 Dec 2011 04:30:00 GMT http://www.dw.de/dw/episode/0,,15552936,00.html?maca=en-podcast_people-and-politics-2941-xml-mrss#6681812 http://www.dw.de/dw/episode/0,,15552936,00.html?maca=en-podcast_people-and-politics-2941-xml-mrss#6681812 It was the trial of the century: On December 15, 1961, an Israeli court sentenced Nazi official Adolf Eichmann to death by hanging. The case is still fresh in many people's minds, 50 years later. People and Politics DW.DE | Deutsche Welle clean 05:19 Fri, 16 Dec 2011 04:30:00 GMT http://www.dw.de/dw/episode/0,,15552936,00.html?maca=en-podcast_people-and-politics-2941-xml-mrss#6681813 http://www.dw.de/dw/episode/0,,15552936,00.html?maca=en-podcast_people-and-politics-2941-xml-mrss#6681813 It's a bitter daily battle on the streets of Germany, pitting aggressive cyclists against aggressive drivers. Claiming the right of way might trigger a verbal attack - or even a collision. In Berlin alone, more than 6,000 bikers are involved in accidents each year. Meanwhile, politicians are hard-pressed to find solutions to stop the road rage. People and Politics DW.DE | Deutsche Welle clean 04:24 Fri, 16 Dec 2011 04:30:00 GMT http://www.dw.de/dw/episode/0,,15552936,00.html?maca=en-podcast_people-and-politics-2941-xml-mrss#6681811 http://www.dw.de/dw/episode/0,,15552936,00.html?maca=en-podcast_people-and-politics-2941-xml-mrss#6681811 New details continue to emerge about a series of racially motivated murders by a group of neo-Nazis in Germany - including a number of indications that officials in the far-right National Democratic Party (NPD) may also have been involved.That has prompted state interior ministers around Germany to launch a second attempt at banning the party. Critics fear that it'll be unsuccessful and the NPD will emerge triumphant. People and Politics DW.DE | Deutsche Welle clean 05:01 Fri, 16 Dec 2011 04:30:00 GMT http://www.dw.de/dw/episode/0,,15537346,00.html?maca=en-podcast_people-and-politics-2941-xml-mrss#6678065 http://www.dw.de/dw/episode/0,,15537346,00.html?maca=en-podcast_people-and-politics-2941-xml-mrss#6678065 German Chancellor Angela Merkel is urging Europe to take action, insisting on stricter financial controls and demanding more stability from other eurozone states. For Merkel, these are all reasonable requests, but much of the rest of Europe say they are being bullied by her demands. So what will the other members of the EU accept? People and Politics DW.DE | Deutsche Welle clean 05:02 Fri, 9 Dec 2011 04:30:00 GMT http://www.dw.de/dw/episode/0,,15537346,00.html?maca=en-podcast_people-and-politics-2941-xml-mrss#6678064 http://www.dw.de/dw/episode/0,,15537346,00.html?maca=en-podcast_people-and-politics-2941-xml-mrss#6678064 Since 2008, German naval vessels have been patrolling off the coast of East Africa as part of the EU's Operation Atlanta. The mission remains controversial, and it has failed to prevent attacks by Somali pirates. In the first half of 2011, there were 266 attacks on commercial vessels. Report by Katharina Kroll People and Politics DW.DE | Deutsche Welle clean 03:23 Fri, 9 Dec 2011 04:30:00 GMT http://www.dw.de/dw/episode/0,,15537346,00.html?maca=en-podcast_people-and-politics-2941-xml-mrss#6678063 http://www.dw.de/dw/episode/0,,15537346,00.html?maca=en-podcast_people-and-politics-2941-xml-mrss#6678063 The Pirate Party is opposed to traditional political designations such as liberal and conservative, left and right. At their recent party congress, the Pirates worked hard to come up with a platform. One goal they agreed on is to win over more voters. People and Politics DW.DE | Deutsche Welle clean 05:52 Fri, 9 Dec 2011 04:30:00 GMT http://www.dw.de/dw/episode/0,,15537346,00.html?maca=en-podcast_people-and-politics-2941-xml-mrss#6678062 http://www.dw.de/dw/episode/0,,15537346,00.html?maca=en-podcast_people-and-politics-2941-xml-mrss#6678062 Is Germany tough enough on neo-Nazis? People and Politics DW.DE | Deutsche Welle clean 01:57 Fri, 9 Dec 2011 04:30:00 GMT http://www.dw.de/dw/episode/0,,15523631,00.html?maca=en-podcast_people-and-politics-2941-xml-mrss#6672048 http://www.dw.de/dw/episode/0,,15523631,00.html?maca=en-podcast_people-and-politics-2941-xml-mrss#6672048 Peer Steinbrück has already received former Chancellor Helmut Schmidt's endorsment to be the Social Democratic candidate for the 2013 general election. And Peer Steinbrück was certainly pleased to get this backing. But the SPD’s former Federal Minister of Finance doesn't enjoy wide support in his party. He remains a controversial figure. People and Politics DW.DE | Deutsche Welle clean 04:52 Fri, 2 Dec 2011 04:30:00 GMT http://www.dw.de/dw/episode/0,,15523631,00.html?maca=en-podcast_people-and-politics-2941-xml-mrss#6672047 http://www.dw.de/dw/episode/0,,15523631,00.html?maca=en-podcast_people-and-politics-2941-xml-mrss#6672047 The thalidomide drug safety scandal was the worst in German history. The sedative was produced by the German pharmaceutical company Grünenthal, and marketed in Germany under the brand name Contergan. It was prescribed to women as a treatment for morning sickness, and caused severe birth defects. Over 5000 children were affected in Germany alone - and even today, they continue to fight for better care and compensation, and for recognition of the harm that was done. People and Politics DW.DE | Deutsche Welle clean 05:31 Fri, 2 Dec 2011 04:30:00 GMT http://www.dw.de/dw/episode/0,,15523631,00.html?maca=en-podcast_people-and-politics-2941-xml-mrss#6672049 http://www.dw.de/dw/episode/0,,15523631,00.html?maca=en-podcast_people-and-politics-2941-xml-mrss#6672049 The 17th World Climate Summit is underway in Durban, South Africa. A survey has shown that people living in Germany are more concerned about climate change than the people of any other nation in the world. People and Politics DW.DE | Deutsche Welle clean 01:36 Fri, 2 Dec 2011 04:30:00 GMT http://www.dw.de/dw/episode/0,,15523631,00.html?maca=en-podcast_people-and-politics-2941-xml-mrss#6672046 http://www.dw.de/dw/episode/0,,15523631,00.html?maca=en-podcast_people-and-politics-2941-xml-mrss#6672046 In three years' time, Afghanistan is scheduled to resume control of its own security. There are currently approximately 130,000 ISAF troops in Afghanistan, among them Germans. The future of Afghanistan is the topic of an upcoming international conference to be held in Bonn. A delegates representing a wide range of bodies will report on what has been achieved in Afghanistan - and how they see the prospects for the country’s future. People and Politics DW.DE | Deutsche Welle clean 05:31 Fri, 2 Dec 2011 04:30:00 GMT http://www.dw.de/dw/episode/0,,15523631,00.html?maca=en-podcast_people-and-politics-2941-xml-mrss#6672045 http://www.dw.de/dw/episode/0,,15523631,00.html?maca=en-podcast_people-and-politics-2941-xml-mrss#6672045 They’ve met the movers and shakers of world politics, and been witness to power struggles of all stripes. At the United Nations in New York, young Germans are representing the interests of micronations that can’t afford highly-paid diplomatic personnel of their own. For the interns, it’s an exciting opportunity, and a crash-course in world politics. People and Politics DW.DE | Deutsche Welle clean 05:00 Fri, 2 Dec 2011 04:30:00 GMT http://www.dw.de/dw/episode/0,,15506867,00.html?maca=en-podcast_people-and-politics-2941-xml-mrss#6673118 http://www.dw.de/dw/episode/0,,15506867,00.html?maca=en-podcast_people-and-politics-2941-xml-mrss#6673118 On November 27, people in Baden-Württemberg will vote in the state's very first referendum: on whether the state should cancel its commitment to co-financing the project.Widespread opposition to the multi-billion-euro project to rebuild Stuttgart's main station helped the Greens and the Social Democrats win state elections in March. Their coalition government will be watching keenly how the referendum turns out. People and Politics DW.DE | Deutsche Welle clean 05:00 Fri, 25 Nov 2011 04:30:00 GMT http://www.dw.de/dw/episode/0,,15506867,00.html?maca=en-podcast_people-and-politics-2941-xml-mrss#6673119 http://www.dw.de/dw/episode/0,,15506867,00.html?maca=en-podcast_people-and-politics-2941-xml-mrss#6673119 Citizens ask questions; the Chancellor answers. The German government now has its own YouTube channel, and Chancellor Angela Merkel is using it to answer the ten most popular questions put to her.Many citizens have voiced disappointment with politics, but it turns out the question most often asked has nothing to do with the European Union politicians' pay, but with the legalization of cannabis. People and Politics DW.DE | Deutsche Welle clean 02:43 Fri, 25 Nov 2011 04:30:00 GMT http://www.dw.de/dw/episode/0,,15506867,00.html?maca=en-podcast_people-and-politics-2941-xml-mrss#6673117 http://www.dw.de/dw/episode/0,,15506867,00.html?maca=en-podcast_people-and-politics-2941-xml-mrss#6673117 Should the NPD be banned? A recent survey found that 70 percent of those asked are in favor of a ban and 22 percent against. People and Politics DW.DE | Deutsche Welle clean 00:49 Fri, 25 Nov 2011 04:30:00 GMT http://www.dw.de/dw/episode/0,,15506867,00.html?maca=en-podcast_people-and-politics-2941-xml-mrss#6673116 http://www.dw.de/dw/episode/0,,15506867,00.html?maca=en-podcast_people-and-politics-2941-xml-mrss#6673116 Discussion has resumed in Germany about whether to ban the National Democratic Party, the NPD. Founded in 1964, it espouses nationalistic and revanchist views. But, like other parties, it receives financial support from the state. In 2003, the Constitutional Court rejected for procedural reasons a request to have it banned. People and Politics DW.DE | Deutsche Welle clean 01:55 Fri, 25 Nov 2011 04:30:00 GMT http://www.dw.de/dw/episode/0,,15506867,00.html?maca=en-podcast_people-and-politics-2941-xml-mrss#6673114 http://www.dw.de/dw/episode/0,,15506867,00.html?maca=en-podcast_people-and-politics-2941-xml-mrss#6673114 A first round of voting in Egypt's parliamentary elections is set to take place on November 28. The situation is tense, with a power struggle among the military, about 50 parties, and young revolutionaries. Germany's Human Rights Commissioner Markus Löning recently visited the country.In Cairo, he spoke with revolutionaries, relatives of revolutionaries, jailed members of the opposition, representatives of parties, and diplomats. We accompanied him on his mission to promote democracy. People and Politics DW.DE | Deutsche Welle clean 06:14 Fri, 25 Nov 2011 04:30:00 GMT http://www.dw.de/dw/episode/0,,15506867,00.html?maca=en-podcast_people-and-politics-2941-xml-mrss#6673115 http://www.dw.de/dw/episode/0,,15506867,00.html?maca=en-podcast_people-and-politics-2941-xml-mrss#6673115 The latest report by Germany's domestic intelligence agency, the Office for the Protection of the Constitution, says: "Again in 2010, no rightwing terrorist structures could be found." Now that a decade-long series of murders by neo-Nazis has come to light, that statement sounds like a bad joke.How was it possible to be so far off the mark? Have the security services concentrated too exclusively on Islamist terrorism and the leftwing radical scene? People and Politics DW.DE | Deutsche Welle clean 05:23 Fri, 25 Nov 2011 04:30:00 GMT http://www.dw.de/dw/episode/0,,15487595,00.html?maca=en-podcast_people-and-politics-2941-xml-mrss#6662050 http://www.dw.de/dw/episode/0,,15487595,00.html?maca=en-podcast_people-and-politics-2941-xml-mrss#6662050 Brandenburg remains hesitant to confront its communist past and the role played by the feared secret police, the Stasi. But now a new federal law permits authorities to examine the pasts of suspected Stasi members. Some regional politicians are opposed to it. And they want state prosecutors and judges to be exempt from the new Stasi checks. People and Politics DW.DE | Deutsche Welle clean 06:17 Fri, 18 Nov 2011 04:30:00 GMT http://www.dw.de/dw/episode/0,,15487595,00.html?maca=en-podcast_people-and-politics-2941-xml-mrss#6662049 http://www.dw.de/dw/episode/0,,15487595,00.html?maca=en-podcast_people-and-politics-2941-xml-mrss#6662049 Six months ago Germany's Greens were riding high in the polls. They were even considering making a run for chancellor at the next election. In the wake of the Fukushima disaster, their support soared to 25%. Now it's dipped back to 15%. We take the pulse of the party with a visit to the grassroots. People and Politics DW.DE | Deutsche Welle clean 04:19 Fri, 18 Nov 2011 04:30:00 GMT http://www.dw.de/dw/episode/0,,15487595,00.html?maca=en-podcast_people-and-politics-2941-xml-mrss#6662047 http://www.dw.de/dw/episode/0,,15487595,00.html?maca=en-podcast_people-and-politics-2941-xml-mrss#6662047 Although they never publicly claimed responsibility for their actions, or used them for propaganda purposes, an extreme rightwing trio committed politically-motivated crimes that police only now believe are linked.The neo-Nazi terror cell based in eastern Germany is suspected of murdering nine migrants as well as a police officer. Germany has been shocked by the revelations, as the full extent of rightwing terrorism unfolds. People and Politics DW.DE | Deutsche Welle clean 06:51 Fri, 18 Nov 2011 04:30:00 GMT http://www.dw.de/dw/episode/0,,15487595,00.html?maca=en-podcast_people-and-politics-2941-xml-mrss#6662048 http://www.dw.de/dw/episode/0,,15487595,00.html?maca=en-podcast_people-and-politics-2941-xml-mrss#6662048 It's a mammoth and unique undertaking. Germany decided to do away with its nuclear reactors in response to the Fukushima disaster in Japan. The last reactor is due to be taken offline in 2022. What progress has been made? And how realistic is the timetable to Germany's nuclear switch-off? People and Politics DW.DE | Deutsche Welle clean 04:55 Fri, 18 Nov 2011 04:30:00 GMT