December in Thuringia, Germany and the world

Attack on Magdeburg’s Christmas market, verdicts in the Schoten murder trial – what was important in December 2024.

December 1st: The new EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen starts her work. With the Italian Commissioner for Cohesion and Reforms, Raffaele Fitto, a politician from the right-wing Fratelli d’Italia (Brothers of Italy) party has been appointed as one of the Vice-Presidents of the EU Commission for the first time.

December 2nd: With comprehensive Warning strikes at Volkswagen IG Metall is mobilizing against the car manufacturer’s billion-dollar savings plans. More than ten thousand employees at many locations temporarily stop working. In Wolfsburg, thousands gather for a rally directly in front of the executive board building.

December 2nd: During a visit to Kyiv, Chancellor Olaf Scholz said Ukraine further support in the defensive fight against Russia. Armaments worth 650 million euros are to be made available before the end of the year. A delivery of the Taurus cruise missile and there should be no invitation for Ukraine to join NATO.

December 2nd: Against the background of domestic political differences, South Korea’s President Yoon Suk Yeol makes a surprise decision Martial law over his country, but withdrew the decision after a few hours in the face of massive resistance in parliament and on the streets. Impeachment proceedings against Yoon find a majority in parliament on the second attempt.

Thousands of people are protesting in South Korea’s capital Seoul against the president and the declaration of martial law.
© dpa | Ahn Young Joon

December 4th: With a vote of no confidence, the opposition in France is bringing down the center-right government of Prime Minister Michel Barnier. Marine Le Pens Right-wing nationalists and the left-wing camp vote together against the government in the National Assembly. A week later, head of state Emmanuel Macron appointed centrist politician François Bayrou as his successor.

December 5th: A good 16 years after the founding of the BitcoinThe cryptocurrency rose above the $100,000 threshold for the first time. The oldest and best-known digital currency has increased enormously, especially since the US presidential election: Before Republican Donald Trump’s election victory, Bitcoin was still trading at around $70,000

December 7th: The Paris cathedral was badly damaged in a fire Notre Dame will reopen. The restoration work on the 850-year-old Paris landmark took more than five and a half years.

The Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris is ceremoniously reopened.
© AFP | DIMITAR DILKOFF

December 7th: The musical comedy “Emilia Pérez” will be at the European Film Award Multiple awards: for direction, screenplay, editing, best actress and European film of the year. The film is about a Mexican cartel boss who has his gender changed to female and then wants to atone for previous crimes.

December 8th: Syria’s ruler Bashar al-Assad Flees to Russia. After taking over important cities, the Islamist alliance Haiat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) now also controls the capital Damascus. The rebels announce that they want to take over peaceful power.

December 11th: I am called that Nice-trial, the Erfurt regional court sentenced a man to life imprisonment for the contract killing of his wife in 2004, as well as the accused shooter. The defense and public prosecutor’s office are appealing.

Archive photo from the beginning of the so-called murder trial on December 18, 2023 – on December 11 of this year, the verdicts in this trial were handed down at the Erfurt Regional Court.
© dpa | Michael Reichel

December 11th: The SPD politician Dietmar Woidke is re-elected Prime Minister of Brandenburg. For the first time, a state government will be formed with the Sahra Alliance car driver (BSW) formed. Woidke also gets yes votes from the opposition CDU and AfD.

December 11th: In the course of the Thuringian Awo scandalThe Erfurt Regional Court dismisses the lawsuit brought by a manager who was terminated without notice. He also has to pay a good 700,000 euros in damages for construction projects that he initiated without a supervisory board.

“Capital Inside” by Jörg Quoos, editor-in-chief of the FUNKE central editorial team

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December 12th: Thuringian state parliament elects CDU state leader Mario Voigt as Prime Minister, although his coalition of CDU, BSW and SPD, which is unique in Germany, does not have a majority. The Left, whose head of government Bodo Ramelow is being replaced by the CDU man, is supporting Voigt into office.

December 19th: Specialty glass manufacturer Schott takes over the quartz glass division of Qsil GmbH in Ilmenau.

December 20th: Horror and sadness nationwide: In one stop to the Christmas market Magdeburg Five people, 200, are injured, some seriously. A man races through the Christmas market in a car. Shortly afterwards he was arrested and the authorities feverishly investigated the background. The man comes from Saudi Arabia, has lived in Germany since 2006, is a doctor and activist critical of Islam.

December 20th: Auto supplier closes after more than 30 years Vitesco his work in Mühlhausen.