Deborah Cole in Berlin

Security forces stage raids against cult-like extremist ‘Kingdom of Germany’ group, arresting alleged ringleader

The German government has outlawed a major part of an extremist movement seeking to undermine the state, in a move the new administration said signalled tough action against a subversive far-right scene.

Hundreds of security forces across seven states staged early morning raids on Tuesday against the cult-like group calling itself “Kingdom of Germany” (KRD), a large group within the Reichsbürger (Citizens of the Reich) movement. Four suspects were arrested including alleged ringleader Peter Fitzek, the self-proclaimed Peter I.

Götz Valien recreates promotional adverts in giant hand-painted images that add a distinct pop art flourish

Götz Valien is Berlin’s last movie poster artist, for more than three decades earning a modest living producing giant hand-painted film adverts to hang at the city’s most beloved historic cinemas – a craft he says will probably die with him, at least in western Europe. The studios’ own promotional posters serve as a template, but Austrian-born Valien, 65, adds a distinctive pop art flourish to each image coupled with the beauty of imperfection – part of the reason he has managed to extend his career well into the 21st century.

New leader secures 325 votes after humiliating loss in first round inflicted by 18 unnamed coalition rebels

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The German parliament has formally elected Friedrich Merz as the country’s 10th chancellor since the second world war, after a humiliating loss in the first round of voting that raised troubling doubts about the stability of the next coalition government.

Merz secured 325 votes in the second round, just above the necessary 316. Earlier in the day 18 unnamed rebels from the newly formed alliance between his conservatives and the Social Democrats had voted to deprive him of the required majority in the secret ballot.

Upgrade from ‘suspected’ threat will mean greater surveillance of party that came second in last election

Germany’s domestic intelligence service has designated the far-right Alternative für Deutschland (AfD), the biggest opposition party, as a “confirmed rightwing extremist” force, meaning authorities can step up their surveillance as critics call for it to be legally banned.

The Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BfV) had since 2021 considered the anti-immigrant, pro-Kremlin party a “suspected” threat to Germany’s democratic order, with regional chapters in three eastern states classed as confirmed extremist.