What should be has to be
The word “household” is actually of the most beautiful neutrality.
We have to manage our household at home, whether we want to or not.
And - I know the comparison is flawed - the government has to draw up its budget year after year, whether it wants to or not.
But I admit that I have phases when the word budget gets on my nerves, both in the private and political spheres.
Today the federal government begins its internal negotiations on the budget for the coming year.
We suspect what's about to happen again: arguments, tussles, blame.
Because there is already a billion-dollar hole in the initial planning.
And – surprise – Finance Minister Christian Lindner (FDP), as he says, sees no scope for additional spending requests.
To kick things off, Lindner's new budget state secretary, Wolf Reuter, sits down with his colleagues from the other ministries in the Ministry of Finance.
The federal budget for 2025 is to be decided by the cabinet before the summer break that begins in July, so the ministries must come to an agreement by then.
And we citizens have to hope that this time the noise level during the clashes will be kept to a minimum.
More background: Christian Lindner is putting pressure on the budget for 2025
Decision in Bucharest
There are still a good three months until the European elections.
The European People's Party (EPP), in which the Christian democratic, conservative and some liberal parties in Europe are represented, will probably remain the largest group in the European Parliament even after the election.
Today, on the second and final day of its meeting in Bucharest, the party will vote on Ursula von der Leyen's candidacy for the post of President of the EU Commission.
She triggers similar reactions at the European level as during her time as a top politician of the CDU at the federal German level.
For many conservatives it is too progressive.
In particular, the Green Deal, an ambitious legislative package to curb climate change, which the Commission President campaigned for right at the beginning of her time at the EU, is repeatedly criticized within her own ranks.
But things will also be restless at the Bucharest meeting today for other reasons.
The French Republicans have announced that they will not vote for von der Leyen.
But this mainly has internal French reasons.
They see the German at the top of the EU as an ally of French President Emmanuel Macron, who unexpectedly elected her as Commission President five years ago.
Some delegates from Slovenia have also announced that they will refuse to vote.
“Von der Leyen can be pretty sure that she will also lead the next commission as president,” says my colleague Timo Lehmann, who is reporting on the EPP party conference from Bucharest.
»Nevertheless, in these times the situation can change drastically at any time.
Nothing has been agreed upon yet.”
A special punchline of the day: CDU leader Friedrich Merz will also appear at the congress.
He is traveling to support von der Leyen and recently praised how she led the EU through the pandemic.
But to imagine Merz as an ardent fan of Ursula von der Leyen would be misleading.
The Merkel CDU was far too progressive for Merz.
And Ursula von der Leyen was always more progressive than the former Chancellor.
More background: She should take on Putin
Talk about Israel
In the war in the Gaza Strip, the USA is pushing for an agreement before the start of the Islamic fasting month of Ramadan on March 10th.
The goals would be a ceasefire and the release of Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners.
US President Joe Biden said: “The ball is now in Hamas’s court.
The Israelis were cooperative, there is a reasonable offer."
It's just a marginal aspect, but perhaps it's worth thinking about it for a moment: Since October 7th at the latest, I've found it problematic to talk about "the Israelis," even if, as here, it is meant in a friendly way.
Talking about “Israel” when referring to the “Netanyahu government” doesn’t seem ideal to me either.
Of course, this habit can be traced back to a way of speaking that is common in politics: Washington wants this, Moscow wants that, Ukraine wants that and Israel wants that.
I just think that, especially when it comes to Israel, we should differentiate between the various actors.
Language makes a big difference.
Because if we always make questionable decisions by the Netanyahu government into decisions by Israel, we are not doing justice to the diversity of voices in the country.
And paying attention to the diversity of voices would be helpful at a time when so many clichés about the country and its people are circulating again.
Of course, Netanyahu and his cabinet certainly represent Israel.
Netanyahu was elected and the country is a democracy.
But we saw in the months before October 7th how great the criticism of the head of government was in the country.
Netanyahu is not Israel; he has been dividing his country for a long time.
More background: Mediating states are pushing for a ceasefire before the start of Ramadan
Read the current SPIEGEL editorial here
All idiots except Weselsky?
Claus Weselsky admitted a mistake, that's good.
It would be even better if the GDL boss wouldn't make the railway even more unreliable with his desire to strike.
Even in a state-owned company, there should be limits to targeted damage to reputation.
Click here for the current daily quiz
Today's starting question: In which year was John Lennon murdered?
Winner of the day…
...is Nikki Haley.
The US Republican politician admitted her major defeat yesterday and gave up her ambitions to become a US presidential candidate.
But my colleague Roland Nelles, SPIEGEL correspondent in Washington, points out that she has managed to become the face of the internal party opposition to former President Donald Trump.
It is also noteworthy that in her press statement yesterday she refrained from expressing her support for Trump as her party's presidential candidate.
That would actually have been usual.
But Haley's intention over the past few months has been to behave in an unusual way.
More on the topic: What will become of Nikki Haley now?
The latest reports from the night
“Rust” weapons master found guilty:
A fatal shot was fired while filming a western in 2021.
Now the weapons master has been found guilty.
She faces up to 18 months in prison.
Maintenance costs millions - USA wants to sell oligarch yacht:
US authorities confiscated the "Amadea" in 2022 - because the Russian owner is on a sanctions list.
But storing the superyacht is extremely expensive.
Now a buyer is being sought.
“My father is not a liar”:
Things are simmering at the Red Bull racing team.
Now the reigning world champion Max Verstappen speaks out - and defends his father Jos.
I would particularly like to recommend this story to you today:
"He said: I'll slaughter you":
She grew up in western Germany in a notorious large Arab family, then she fled from her family.
Latife Arab – the name is a pseudonym – managed to secretly get German citizenship.
Today she lives with her four children under a new identity.
Now she is going public with her story.
My colleague Katrin Elger and my colleague Lukas Eberle interviewed her - and talked to her about beatings, police raids and her new life as a dropout.
I wish you a good start to the day.
Yours, Susanne Beyer, author of the editor-in-chief