Merz faces the first general debate as a chancellor. The situation in the morning

Good morning, dear readers!

Friedrich Merz is changing a role today. In the era of the “traffic lights” he had really sweated the then Chancellor Olaf Scholz – as an opposition leader. Now it is Merz to step from the government bank to defend his government policy and to face the rhetorical beating of the opposition in the general debate of the budget week.

The budget of the Chancellery is actually on Wednesday. But for many, the topic is more of a sleep aid. It’s a good thing that the debate about the chancellery is traditionally used by the opposition parties as a day of billing with government work. That wakes up!

A total of four hours are planned for the debate. AfD parliamentary group leader Alice Weidel starts as a leader of the largest opposition group. Only then does the CDU chairman Merz speak. -although only for a short 65 days in office-he wants to draw a first interim balance of the black and red coalition.

After the general debate, Merz will first ask the MPs’ questions in a government survey. For this, 70 minutes are planned-enough time for a quick-witted word ping pong.

Even if the general debate is often used for rhetorical all -rounds against the political opponent or the government, the phrases should only fly through the plenum again today. Therefore we have prepared a little game for you: the general debate bingo! Five in a row and they won. Unfortunately we cannot offer you a price, but you can look forward to the honor.

Sometimes Donald Trump’s “Make America Great Again” supporters look like a sect that adheres to their president. Nothing comes to Trump for her, who wants to make the nation huge again and her life much better. But for everyone (or at least most) there are red lines that cannot be exceeded with words or deeds. And Trump approaches these lines with his followers. The annoyance from the Maga camp is growing-as well as the pressure on its initiator.

At first it was the gift that is supposed to serve as a replacement for the Air Force One, which caused a taste for Trump’s own followers. Now it is the investigation results of the US authorities to the Jeffrey Epstein case. The FBI and the Ministry of Justice had announced that there was no evidence that Epstein had a list of prominent clients or that Epstein was killed by the elite in its cell. The investment banker was accused of misused numerous girls and young women.

Many Trump supporters are outraged because his government has not kept a promise. She wanted to bring light to the scandal around US billionaire Jeffrey Epstein, who was found dead in his prison cell in Manhattan in 2019. Some Trump supporters even whispered that the billionaire was therefore eliminated by a “deep state”.

Some of the biggest Trump fans have therefore criticized FBI director Kash Patel and his deputy Dan Bongino, who were previously highly valued in the Maga world, in the past few days. However, the main goal of the attacks seems to be a lawyer for General Pam Bondi. Several supporters even call for their resignation, such as the right-wing influencer Laura Loomer, who is said to have a great impact on Trump.

“This is disgusting over all dimensions,” tweeted the Trump supporter, radio presenter and well-known conspiracy theorist Alex Jones. Next, the Ministry of Justice will claim that Epstein had never existed, he added sarcastic.

Trump doesn’t want to know anything about the case. “People are still talking about this type, this opposite? That is incredible,” he was outraged by the question of a reporter.

Only one is happy about the turmoil in the Maga camp: Elon Musk, who fell out of favor with Trump. How could people “have confidence in Trump if he didn’t publish the Epstein files?” Asked the tech entrepreneur in his online service X. Maybe Musk hopes for Maga supporters who want to switch to his warehouse. Does the revolution eat its own children in the United States?

The Federal Constitutional Court should receive three new judges. Union and SPD have agreed on this. Only: In the Bundestag, the parties lack the two -thirds majority, even with the voices of the Greens. So only the AfD – with which you do not want to cooperate – and the left. However, this makes demands for your consent. At least a conversation with the Union should be in. What’s next? Left boss Ines Schwerdtner talks to this star-Piece chief Jan Rosenkranz:

With around 75,000 new illnesses, breast cancer represents the most common cancer in women in Germany. For example, one of eight women falls ill in the course of their lives, around 18,500 women die annually. Therefore, preventive examinations are important-and can save lives: According to a study, mammography screening for women contributes significantly to the reduction of breast cancer mortality in Germany. The free early identification program introduced 20 years ago lowers the number of deaths and increases the chances of healing for sick women, as the Federal Office of Radiation Protection (BFS) announced. Details on the results should be presented on Wednesday afternoon.

“Overall, the determined benefit is significantly larger than the very low risk of radiation,” said BfS President Inge Paulini. “So women benefit from participation in the quality-assured screening program.” Even small tumors could be recognized. But: “Every year of the 50 to 69-year-olds takes part in the mammography screening program every year,” said Paulini. The Federal Office now recommends reducing the lower age limit for participation from 50 to 45 years. In the age group between 45 and 50 years, according to the BFS, around 5000 women in Germany develop breast cancer every year.

How did he like this morning | star? Please write it to me: rune.weichert@stern.de

I wish you a good start to Wednesday! Warm, you