Germany’s parliament has paid tribute to the 8,000 people murdered in the 1995 Srebrenica massacre, which is widely recognized as a genocide by international courts. The somber session was disrupted by far-right politicians from the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party who questioned the definition of the massacre as a genocidal act.
Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul clarified that the German government recognizes the Srebrenica massacre as a genocide, and Chancellor Friedrich Merz is set to make his first official visit to London next week with plans to sign a German-British treaty of friendship. The draft treaty aims to deepen ties between the two countries and promote cooperation in foreign policy, defense, and economic growth.
Meanwhile, a joint car plant in Nanjing, China, run by Volkswagen and its local partner SAIC, will be closed in the coming months due to urban location constraints and production shifting towards electric vehicles. The number of companies going bankrupt in Germany also rose significantly in April, with 2,125 businesses filing for bankruptcy, a rise of 11.5% compared to last year.
Far-right politicians from AfD have sparked outrage after questioning the genocide label, while politicians from the SPD and CDU/CSU accused them of spouting revisionist history that denies genocide and sides perpetrators of war crimes. The vote on appointing three new Federal Constitutional Court judges has also been postponed due to plagiarism suspicions surrounding one candidate.
In other news, German comedian Sebastian Hotz will face trial for social media posts condoning Trump assassination remarks, while Christina Block, heiress to Germany’s Block House steakhouse chain, goes on trial accused of ordering the kidnapping of her two youngest children. The wife of Lufthansa CEO Carsten Spohr expressed “deep sorrow” over a fatal car accident in Italy, and German businessman Vivian Spohr placed herself at the disposal of Italian judicial authorities for further investigations.
The German parliament’s tribute to the Srebrenica victims marks an important moment in Germany’s history, underscoring its commitment to acknowledging and remembering past atrocities. As tensions rise over far-right politics, it is essential to recognize the importance of standing against hate speech and revisionist history that undermines the truth about genocide.
Source: https://www.dw.com/en/germany-updates-bundestag-remembers-srebrenica-massacre/live-73236265