New direction: On the German poll results, Russia relations
1 month ago

New direction: On the German poll results, Russia relations

The Hindu  

When Germans went to vote on Sunday, in one of the most consequential elections in the country’s post-reunification history, there was little doubt about the outcome. In the results, the conservative Christian Democratic Union and its Bavarian sister party, Christian Social Union, led by Friedrich Merz, emerged as the largest bloc, with 28.5% votes, while the AfD doubled its vote share to 20.8%. Mr. Merz had asked voters for a strong mandate to fix Germany’s problems. So, it is likely that Mr. Merz, whose bloc has 208 seats, would form a two-party coalition government with the Social Democrats, with its 120 seats. He must reboot a contracting economy, which has barely grown since the pre-COVID years, tackle the immigration problem, which was exploited by the far-right, and formulate foreign policy that addresses both the Ukraine war and Europe’s security challenges.

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History of this topic

DC Edit | Big challenge for Germany amid changing world order
1 month ago

DC Edit | Big challenge for Germany amid changing world order

Deccan Chronicle  

The Germans have voted and short of saying ‘No Trump please, we are German’ they have done everything to keep an overbearing American influence out. Once he strikes a deal with the third-placed SDP he can try to fulfil his promise of dealing with the new world order in Trump’s second regime by seeing to it that Germany strengthens its …

The biggest takeaways from Germany’s election, which will bring change to the EU’s leading power
1 month ago

The biggest takeaways from Germany’s election, which will bring change to the EU’s leading power

Associated Press  

BERLIN — Germany faces its second change of leader in fewer than four years after the head of the center-right opposition, Friedrich Merz, won Sunday’s election, which saw a surge for a far-right party and a stinging defeat for outgoing Chancellor Olaf Scholz. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz after first projections are announced during the election party at the Social Democratic …

The race to save Germany
1 month ago

The race to save Germany

Live Mint  

Germans voted for change Sunday, and the most important questions now facing their country—and Europe—are whether and how quickly they’ll get it. The likely vote share of about 29% marks a four-point improvement on his party’s result under a different leader in the last election in 2021. This is partly a vindication of Mr. Merz’s efforts to abandon the woolly …

As Germany goes to vote, far-right AfD puts leftists & moderates on notice
1 month ago

As Germany goes to vote, far-right AfD puts leftists & moderates on notice

Firstpost  

In Germany that once swore to never again let fascism take over, neo-Nazis of Alternative for Germany are projected to be the second-largest party in elections, putting the moderates on notice that if they don’t address the socioeconomic crisis, their time might be up soon A decade ago, Germany had a resilient economy, a fiscal discipline that was admired, and …

German Election Live Updates: CDU's Friedrich Merz claims victory, Scholz concedes defeat
1 month ago

German Election Live Updates: CDU's Friedrich Merz claims victory, Scholz concedes defeat

Firstpost  

German Snap Election 2025 Live Updates: The conservative CDU/CSU is projected to lead the new German parliament with around 29 per cent of the vote, positioning Friedrich Merz as the frontrunner for chancellor. Germany’s conservative election frontrunner Friedrich Merz promised Saturday in his last rally before Sunday’s elections that if he takes power he will be a “strong voice in …

German election: Conservatives eye victory as far-right AfD gains ground in polarised contest
1 month ago

German election: Conservatives eye victory as far-right AfD gains ground in polarised contest

Firstpost  

Sunday’s vote comes at a time of upheaval for Europe and its biggest economy as US President Donald Trump has ended a united Western stance on the Ukraine conflict by reaching out to Russia. Merz vows ‘strong voice’ for Germany in EU Germany’s conservative election frontrunner Friedrich Merz promised Saturday in his last rally before Sunday’s elections that if he …

German election: Conservatives eye victory as far-right AfD gains ground in polarised contest
1 month ago

German election: Conservatives eye victory as far-right AfD gains ground in polarised contest

Firstpost  

Sunday’s vote comes at a time of upheaval for Europe and its biggest economy as US President Donald Trump has ended a united Western stance on the Ukraine conflict by reaching out to Russia. Merz vows ‘strong voice’ for Germany in EU Germany’s conservative election frontrunner Friedrich Merz promised Saturday in his last rally before Sunday’s elections that if he …

German frontrunner pledges to lead in Europe before key election
1 month ago

German frontrunner pledges to lead in Europe before key election

Al Jazeera  

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and opposition leader Friedrich Merz appeal to voters in the run-up to Sunday’s election. Election frontrunner Friedrich Merz from the centre-right Christian Democratic Union party on Saturday promised to revive Europe’s largest economy and defend Europe’s interests in the face of a confrontational US administration. Merz said, “With me, Germany will have a strong voice in …

Support for AfD grows as poll nears
1 month, 1 week ago

Support for AfD grows as poll nears

China Daily  

From left: Germany's Chancellor Olaf Scholz, leader of the Social Democratic Party, debates issues with the Green Party's main candidate Robert Habeck, Friedrich Merz, leader of the Christian Democratic Union, and co-leader and main candidate of the far-right Alternative for Germany party Alice Weidel in Berlin on Sunday. KAY NIETFELD/POOL/AFP Germany faces its most consequential election in decades on Sunday …

Elections in Germany: What rise of right means for Europe’s largest economy
1 month, 1 week ago

Elections in Germany: What rise of right means for Europe’s largest economy

Firstpost  

The choices made in the coming weeks will have far-reaching implications for Germany and its ability to navigate the uncertain geopolitical and economic challenges ahead Germany is heading into an early election on February 23, 2025, at a critical moment for both its economic and political future. The SPD’s dwindling influence reflects broader shifts in German politics, as voters become …

Germany enters final phase of election campaign amid America's far-right influence
1 month, 1 week ago

Germany enters final phase of election campaign amid America's far-right influence

Firstpost  

After weeks of sparring on migration and a surge of support for the far-right Alternative for Germany, the race took a new turn last week with comments by US Vice President JD Vance People gather at an election campaign rally of Alternative for Germany party ahead of the Thuringia state elections, in Erfurt, Germany August 31, 2024. Photo- Reuters Germany …

Germany enters final phase of election campaign amid America's far-right influence
1 month, 1 week ago

Germany enters final phase of election campaign amid America's far-right influence

Firstpost  

After weeks of sparring on migration and a surge of support for the far-right Alternative for Germany, the race took a new turn last week with comments by US Vice President JD Vance People gather at an election campaign rally of Alternative for Germany party ahead of the Thuringia state elections, in Erfurt, Germany August 31, 2024. Photo- Reuters Germany …

As Germany heads to polls, is Olaf Scholz ‘firewall to AfD’ crumbling?
Trending News
1 month, 3 weeks ago

As Germany heads to polls, is Olaf Scholz ‘firewall to AfD’ crumbling?

Firstpost  

Germany’s election campaign heats up as CDU leader Friedrich Merz indicates potential cooperation with the far-right AfD to push for stricter immigration policies, challenging the political “firewall” against right-wing populists. Chancellor Scholz warns against weakening this barrier, while the AfD’s rising popularity fuels concerns over deepening polarisation and the party’s nationalist rhetoric supported by figures like Elon Musk. ‘The firewall …

Germany puzzles at Elon Musk’s embrace of its AfD populists
2 months, 1 week ago

Germany puzzles at Elon Musk’s embrace of its AfD populists

Live Mint  

BERLIN—During Elon Musk’s freewheeling conversation with the leader of a far-right German party last week, spanning Hitler, multiplanetary civilizations and the existence of god, the billionaire tech entrepreneur insisted that the Alternative for Germany was moderate. “If Musk’s rocket science and knowledge of electromobility were as superficial as his analysis of German politics, then his cars wouldn’t drive, and his …

Elon Musk urges Germans to vote for AfD in latest involvement in European politics
2 months, 2 weeks ago

Elon Musk urges Germans to vote for AfD in latest involvement in European politics

CNN  

CNN — Elon Musk praised the co-leader of the German party Alternative for Germany as “very reasonable” on Thursday, urging Germans to vote for the far-right party in what is the latest high-profile sign of the tech billionaire’s involvement in European politics. “Only AfD can save Germany, end of story, and people really need to get behind AfD, and otherwise …

German leader is more worried about Musk’s backing of a far-right party than his insults
2 months, 3 weeks ago

German leader is more worried about Musk’s backing of a far-right party than his insults

The Hindu  

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz says he's staying “cool” against critical personal comments made by Elon Musk but finds it worrying that the U.S. billionaire makes the effort to get involved in a general election by endorsing the far-right Alternative for Germany party. Scholz was reacting after Musk, a close ally to U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, called the chancellor a “fool” …

5 takeaways from Germany's regional elections after far right makes historic gains
6 months, 3 weeks ago

5 takeaways from Germany's regional elections after far right makes historic gains

NPR  

5 takeaways from Germany's regional elections after far right makes historic gains toggle caption Markus Schreiber/AP BERLIN — Voters in two states in eastern Germany have delivered a far-right party its best result since World War II. The Alternative for Germany, known by the German initials AfD, a nationalist party that routinely blames immigrants for many of Germany’s problems, has …

German leader confident that a surging far-right party will shrink again before the next election
1 year, 8 months ago

German leader confident that a surging far-right party will shrink again before the next election

Associated Press  

BERLIN — German Chancellor Olaf Scholz expressed optimism Friday that support for a far-right party which has been surging in the polls lately will shrink to previous levels again by the time of the next national election in 2025. “I’m quite confident that AfD won’t perform much differently at the next federal election than it did at the last,” Scholz …

Explained | Is there a change in German policy towards Russia?
2 years, 1 month ago

Explained | Is there a change in German policy towards Russia?

The Hindu  

The story so far: After months of political debate, the German government announced on January 25 that it would send Leopard 2 main battle tanks to Ukraine. How did Germany’s policy towards Russia evolve in the 20th century? Soon after the Bolshevik revolution and Germany’s defeat in the First World War, the Soviet Union and the newly born German republic …

Could far-right AfD weaponise Germany’s cost-of-living crisis?
2 years, 3 months ago

Could far-right AfD weaponise Germany’s cost-of-living crisis?

Al Jazeera  

Some fear the Alternative for Germany party could be re-galvanised to regain lost political ground amid the downturn. “The AfD’s message has been that it is not the task of the government to fight for peace and better living conditions for people in other countries, the only real task of this government is to support its own society.” “The government …

Sidelined by rivals, Germany’s far-right AfD bides time
3 years, 6 months ago

Sidelined by rivals, Germany’s far-right AfD bides time

Associated Press  

BERLIN — Immigration is a side issue in this year’s German election campaign, but that hasn’t stopped the country’s biggest far-right party from trying to play it up. “Cologne, Kassel or Konstanz can’t cope with more Kabul,” Alternative for Germany declared on one of its posters ahead of the Sept. 26 election — a reference to the government’s decision to …

German election: What’s next for the Russia-Germany relationship?
3 years, 6 months ago

German election: What’s next for the Russia-Germany relationship?

Al Jazeera  

As Angela Merkel prepares for her retirement, her successor will take over at a time when Russian-German relations are at their lowest ebb in years. “I think there will be further alienation.” Russia’s annexation of Crimea and its covert use of military forces in Ukraine in 2014 shattered the diplomatic status quo with Germany, which has since taken a leading …

How Russians have helped fuel the rise of Germany’s far right
6 years, 4 months ago

How Russians have helped fuel the rise of Germany’s far right

Salon  

In October 2017, a man I’ll call Mr. K. told me that he had given his vote to Germany’s far-right Alternative for Germany party. Since 2015, the AfD has been actively courting Germany’s Russian community, even setting up a network within the party to specifically address their concerns. “The AfD gives these people a new political home.” The political power …

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