Chancellor Merz rallies for votes in upcoming state polls as Pistorius meets Asian allies, amid a trial for a prosecutor accused of aiding drug gangs.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz is campaigning in Rhineland-Palatinate on the last day before state parliamentary elections, supporting his CDU party's candidate Gordon Schneider against the SPD, which has led the state for 35 years. Current polls show the CDU and SPD in a tight race.
State Election Campaign Highlights
Merz will join Schneider for events in Bad Dürkheim, aiming to challenge the incumbent SPD Premier Alexander Schweitzer, who is campaigning in Landau. The SPD's popularity has waned after recent losses, making this election competitive.
Meanwhile, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius departs for a one-week trip to Asia, visiting counterparts in Japan, Singapore, and Australia to strengthen ties. Pistorius stated there is no reason to restrict U.S. use of the Ramstein airbase for operations, following inquiries from Iran.
In a separate development, a state prosecutor in Hanover faces sentencing for allegedly providing classified information to international drug gangs in exchange for bribes. The prosecutor admitted guilt on nine of 14 charges, with evidence showing he warned gangs about police raids between June 2020 and March 2021.
Prosecutor Trial Details
The accomplice, accused of acting as a middleman in 12 instances, is also on trial. Prosecutors seek an eight-and-a-half-year sentence for the prosecutor and a suspended sentence for the accomplice. The case reopened in June 2024 after new testimony, with one gang member arrested in the UAE in February.
The investigation began in 2022 but was dropped in October 2023 due to lack of evidence, only to resume in 2024. This trial highlights issues in law enforcement integrity, as the prosecutor admitted disappointing many and expressed regret.
Friday's events in Germany also include ongoing coverage of these stories, with Pistorius's trip focusing on international security discussions.
