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Germany news: Coalition vows care system reform deal
Germany news: Coalition vows care system reform deal
Timothy Jones dpa, Reuters, AP, AFP, epd, KNAPublished 09/30/2026Published September 30, 2026last updated 09/30/2026last updated September 30, 2026The coalition government is seeking to bring a heated debate over a care reform package to an end. Police have launched raids across Germany targeting Hells Angels gangs and a money-laundering network. DW has more.
https://p.dw.com/p/5NUqYWhat you need to know
- Members of the coalition government say they hope that a package of care system reforms can be approved by the Cabinet on Wednesday
- Police have raided sites in Germany and other European countries in a crackdown on Hells Angels bikers and a money-laundering network
- All trains stations in Germany are to be (almost) no-alcohol zones from October
This is a roundup of the top stories from and about Germany on Wednesday, September 30, 2026:
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Skip next section Cabinet debates care reform after uncertainty09/30/2026September 30, 2026Cabinet debates care reform after uncertainty
Timothy JonesThe German Cabinet is to discuss the draft bill put forward by Health Minister Carsten Linnemann to reform the care system after much heated debate between the coalition partners, the Federal Press Office in Berlin has said.
The reform proposals have highlighted divisions between the bloc of conservative Christian Democrats (CDU) with Bavarian sister party the Christian Social Union (CSU), and junior coalition partner the center-left Social Democrats (SPD).
Those divisions made it uncertain up to the last moment whether Wednesday's meeting was to take place.
https://p.dw.com/p/5NVG9Skip next section Police raid Hells Angels sites in Germany and elsewhere09/30/2026September 30, 2026Police raid Hells Angels sites in Germany and elsewhere
Timothy JonesMore than 1,000 police officers have launched raids in Germany and other European countries targeting Hells Angels bikers and an associated money-laundering network.
Duisburg police said the officers would execute a number of arrest warrants and confiscate up to €48.6 million ($55.15 million) of illicit funds.
More than 100 locations were to be searched, with 71 people under investigation.
Searches are being carried out in the states of North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate, Baden-Württemberg, Berlin and Bavaria, as well as in Belgium, Bulgaria and the Netherlands.
According to police, those under investigation are suspected of "forming a criminal association, predatory and commercial blackmail, gang and commercial fraud and commercial money-laundering."
They are also believed to be behind weapons offenses, physical assault and tax avoidance.
The operation is under the supervision of state prosecutors in Duisburg, with the involvement of the State Office for Combating Financial Criminality in North Rhine-Westphalia (LBF).
https://p.dw.com/p/5NV9QSkip next section Coalition in race to put care reform debate to rest09/30/2026September 30, 2026Coalition in race to put care reform debate to rest
A package of reforms to Germany's care system put forward by conservative Health Minister Carsten Linnemann remains a source of contention within the coalition.
It remained unclear early on Wednesday whether a planned morning Cabinet meeting to agree on the package called by Linnemann would take place.
The junior coalition partner, the center-left Social Democrats (SPD), opposes any cuts to care services.
Among other things, it has called for a cap on personal contributions to care in retirement homes and financial adjustments to make the division fairer between private and statutory nursing care insurance models.
Both ideas have met with skepticism from Linnemann.
The reform of the system has been made necessary by the growing number of people needing care as the population ages, which has raised costs.
The National Association of Statutory Health Insurance Funds (GKV), which also represents care insurance institutes, estimates a shortfall of €4.4 billion ($5 billion) this year, and €10 billion in 2027.
https://p.dw.com/p/5NUvNSkip next section Welcome to our coverage09/30/2026September 30, 2026Guten Tag from DW's newsroom on the still-running-but-just Rhine River in Bonn!
The conservative/center-left coalition government is still quibbling over proposed reforms to Germany's care system, with time running out to reach a deal.
It remains to be seen whether the Cabinet will be in a position to approve the package on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, police have targeted a money-laundering network and biker gangs in raids.
And from October, alcohol at all German train stations will only be allowed to be consumed in restaurants
Read on for more on these and other stories.
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