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Germany's Söder Proposes State Merger Amid Controversy

1/18/2026

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Summary

Story summary

Bavaria's State Premier Markus Söder proposed merging Germany's 16 federal states to boost economic efficiency, but did not specify which should merge.
His remarks drew resistance, including humor from Saxony-Anhalt's Premier Reiner Haselhoff, who called for constitutional changes.
Bavaria has long received aid, yet last year paid over €6.7 billion to poorer states through the fiscal equalization system.

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Story summary

Bavaria's State Premier Markus Söder proposed merging Germany's 16 federal states to boost economic efficiency, but did not specify which should merge.
His remarks drew resistance, including humor from Saxony-Anhalt's Premier Reiner Haselhoff, who called for constitutional changes.
Bavaria has long received aid, yet last year paid over €6.7 billion to poorer states through the fiscal equalization system.