15:26⇢SPD Surrenders on Minimum Wage Promise
⌨The newspapers report on the minimum wage commission's final recommendation to raise Germany's wage floor to 14.60 euros by 2027, with the SPD accepting defeat on their 15-euro campaign promise amid internal party tensions at their Berlin congress (RP Online, Tagesspiegel, Merkur). Chancellor Merz outlines his strategy for potential deals with Trump while proposing to seal Europe's external borders in coordination with Austria's chancellor, marking a hardline shift on migration policy (FAZ, FR). The AfD continues its internal debate over Russia policy, with two Bundestag members publicly clashing on whether the party is too Moscow-friendly, as one demands more Ukraine support while his colleague blames the West for the war (Junge Freiheit). German corporate troubles deepen as 25,000 Bosch employees protest the elimination of anniversary bonuses, while BASF faces French authorities' accusations of releasing forever chemicals into the Seine river (Stuttgarter Zeitung, Welt).