German chancellor faces backlash over election losses while Irish housing and education reforms stall
Chancellor Friedrich Merz called recent state election results a disaster but will not step down, as Ireland pushes a larger Help-to-Buy scheme and the Leaving Certificate overhaul meets renewed teacher union opposition.
After far-right Alternative for Germany and far-left Die Linke made significant gains in recent state elections, Chancellor Friedrich Merz described the outcome as a "disaster" yet refused to resign. In Ireland, Housing Minister James Browne is advocating for a major expansion of the Help-to-Buy programme ahead of the 2027 budget. Meanwhile, the country's largest teachers' union, the ASTI, warned that frustration is rising among those redesigning the Leaving Certificate curriculum. A review of free school meals found pupils favoring processed foods, and a profile noted tech billionaire John Collison's impact on Abbeyleix, Co Laois.
Why it matters
The story shows political pressure in Germany and policy challenges in Ireland affecting housing, education and public health.
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