Volkswagen's threats to shutter factory are a headache for Germany's Olaf Scholz, his party: Here's why
3 weeks, 5 days ago

Volkswagen's threats to shutter factory are a headache for Germany's Olaf Scholz, his party: Here's why

Firstpost  

The crisis has political ramifications beyond Volkswagen. The far-right Alternative for Germany party is capitalising on public discontent and is currently polling in second place ahead of February’s election Volkswagen's threat to shut down plants and lay off workers has caused frustration amongst labour unions and created issues for politicians. Thorsten Gröger, chief negotiator for IG Metall, Germany’s largest labour union, said warning strikes will begin before December 9, ahead of key talks with the automaker. “We are prepared for that.” Germany’s politicians in a sticky situation Germany’s political leadership faces limited options as it braces for elections on February 23. The far-right Alternative for Germany party is capitalising on public discontent and is currently polling in second place ahead of February’s election.

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History of this topic

Scholz dismisses Musk’s assertion that only a far-right party can ‘save’ Germany
3 days, 11 hours ago

Scholz dismisses Musk’s assertion that only a far-right party can ‘save’ Germany

Associated Press  

BERLIN — Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Friday dismissed an assertion by Elon Musk that only a far-right party can “save Germany,” but said that freedom of opinion “also goes for multibillionaires.” Germany is expected to vote in an early election on Feb. 23 after Scholz’s three-party governing coalition collapsed last month in a dispute over how to revitalize the country’s …

Elon Musk backs Germany’s far-right AfD before elections
4 days, 1 hour ago

Elon Musk backs Germany’s far-right AfD before elections

Al Jazeera  

Germans expected to vote on February 23 after a centre-left coalition government led by Chancellor Olaf Scholz collapses. “Only the AfD can save Germany,” Musk wrote on Friday in a post on his social media platform, X. Europe’s largest economy is expected to vote on February 23 after a centre-left coalition government led by Chancellor Olaf Scholz collapsed. Radtke called …

Germany Chancellor Olaf Scholz loses confidence vote; early elections on February 23
Top News
1 week ago

Germany Chancellor Olaf Scholz loses confidence vote; early elections on February 23

Live Mint  

The German parliament accepted Chancellor Olaf Scholz's invitation to withdraw its confidence in him and his government on Monday, clearing the way for an early election on Feb. 23 necessitated by the collapse of his government. Scholz's three-party coalition fell apart last month after the pro-market Free Democrats quit in a row over debt, leaving his Social Democrats and the …

Germany's Scholz calls confidence vote as coalition falls apart, elections loom
1 week ago

Germany's Scholz calls confidence vote as coalition falls apart, elections loom

Hindustan Times  

Germany's embattled Chancellor Olaf Scholz will face parliament Monday to trigger the process towards February 23 elections, in the hope that he can weather a political crisis and win a second term. The political contest comes at a time when Europe's top economy is struggling to revive its stuttering export-led industrial sector amid high energy prices and tough competition from …

Germany is heading for federal elections – here’s what you need to know
1 week, 1 day ago

Germany is heading for federal elections – here’s what you need to know

CNN  

CNN — Germany, Europe’s largest economy and normally a pillar of stability, is facing snap elections next year after Chancellor Olaf Scholz lost a vote of confidence. Leonie von Randow, a political reporter at German broadcaster WELT TV who will be covering the election campaign, told CNN that Merz “knows a thing or two about the economy, and that is …

Germany: Scholz launches polling process, calls for vote of confidence next week
1 week, 5 days ago

Germany: Scholz launches polling process, calls for vote of confidence next week

Firstpost  

In a brief televised statement, Scholz said he wanted “to clear the way” for the elections and stressed that until then his government and the legislature would remain “fully capable” of steering the ship of state German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Wednesday set the election process in motion leading up to early polls in February next year as politics in …

Germany’s far-right AfD picks chancellor candidate first time
2 weeks, 3 days ago

Germany’s far-right AfD picks chancellor candidate first time

Al Jazeera  

Alice Weidel’s nomination comes before snap elections expected in February next year. The far-right Alternative for Germany has named party leader Alice Weidel as its first chancellor nominee, before snap elections expected in February next year. A west German leading a party that is strongest in Germany’s former communist east, she worked for Goldman Sachs and Allianz Global Investors and …

German Opposition Leader Lambasts Scholz in Election Broadside
1 month, 1 week ago

German Opposition Leader Lambasts Scholz in Election Broadside

Live Mint  

-- German conservative leader Friedrich Merz launched his election bid with a stinging attack on Chancellor Olaf Scholz, calling the Social Democrat a “lightweight” and accusing him of sowing division in Europe’s biggest economy. Merz, whose conservative group has a big lead in opinion polls, fired back, accusing Scholz of being responsible for polarization in Germany and calling his tactics …

Scholz Seeks to Revive Prospects Ahead of German Snap Election
1 month, 1 week ago

Scholz Seeks to Revive Prospects Ahead of German Snap Election

Live Mint  

-- Germany’s election campaign kicks into high gear on Wednesday, when Chancellor Olaf Scholz makes his case in a public address for another term, despite polls showing voters are overwhelmingly looking for a change. Scholz’s Social Democrats will tout the chancellor’s experience while criticizing the opposition leader Friedrich Merz, who heads the conservative CDU/CSU bloc and is leading opinion polls …

Germany’s coalition collapses dramatically. Scholz plans to lead with a minority government
1 month, 2 weeks ago

Germany’s coalition collapses dramatically. Scholz plans to lead with a minority government

Associated Press  

BERLIN — After Germany’s government coalition collapsed in a dramatic fashion when Chancellor Olaf Scholz fired Finance Minister Christian Lindner of the pro-business Free Democrats, Scholz said he would lead the country with a minority government, despite calls from opposition leaders on Thursday for early elections. The chancellor said the minority government would be made up of his Social Democrats …

Germany heads for early elections as Chancellor Scholz’s coalition collapses
Top News
1 month, 2 weeks ago

Germany heads for early elections as Chancellor Scholz’s coalition collapses

The Hindu  

Germany entered a major political crisis on Wednesday with the collapse of Chancellor Olaf Scholz's ruling coalition likely paving the way for early elections next year. Mr. Scholz said he would seek a vote of confidence by January 15 so that MPs "can decide whether to clear the way for early elections" which could be held by late March — …

Germany's ruling coalition collapses, Scholz govt in trouble; trust vote likely in January
Top News
1 month, 2 weeks ago

Germany's ruling coalition collapses, Scholz govt in trouble; trust vote likely in January

Firstpost  

German Chancellor Scholz sacked his finance minister, Christian Lindner, on Wednesday. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz fired his rebellious Finance Minister Christian Lindner on Wednesday, effectively ending the nation’s three-party coalition government. The decision followed weeks of intense disputes within the coalition, comprised of Scholz’s Social Democrats, Lindner’s Free Democrats, and the Greens. Scholz later held a press conference saying he …

German elections: The rise of populism in Germany has important lessons for Starmer
3 months, 2 weeks ago

German elections: The rise of populism in Germany has important lessons for Starmer

The Independent  

Whether they like it or not, Germans and Brits are beginning to resemble each other. The Free Democrats, the smallest coalition party, garnered less than 1 per cent of the vote in Saxony last Sunday, ending up behind the Animal Protection Party. As for the opposition Christian Democrats, the CDU, it should be streets ahead, but in its acerbic post-Merkel …

European election dents German leader's authority, boosts conservatives and the far right
6 months, 1 week ago

European election dents German leader's authority, boosts conservatives and the far right

The Hindu  

Dismal results for Germany's governing parties in the European Parliament election have dented Chancellor Olaf Scholz's authority and could prompt even more of the infighting that just cost the government dearly. The defeat of the three parties in Mr. Scholz's unpopular coalition “really was not surprising, but the level they have dropped to is quite shocking for a governing coalition,” …

European election dents German leader’s authority, boosts conservatives and the far right
6 months, 1 week ago

European election dents German leader’s authority, boosts conservatives and the far right

Associated Press  

BERLIN — Dismal results for Germany’s governing parties in the European Parliament election have dented Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s authority and could prompt even more of the infighting that just cost the government dearly. The defeat of the three parties in Scholz’s unpopular coalition “really wasn’t surprising, but the level they’ve dropped to is quite shocking for a governing coalition,” said …

European election dents German leader's authority, boosts conservatives and the far right
6 months, 1 week ago

European election dents German leader's authority, boosts conservatives and the far right

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Dismal results for Germany's governing …

Germany’s Scholz calls for unity against far-right after MEP seriously hurt
7 months, 2 weeks ago

Germany’s Scholz calls for unity against far-right after MEP seriously hurt

Al Jazeera  

Chancellor’s appeal comes after four assailants brutally attacked a politician who was campaigning in eastern Germany. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has called for people to stand together against far-right activism after a politician was attacked while campaigning for the European parliamentary elections. “Democracy is threatened by something like this, and that is why shrugging our shoulders is never an option,” …

A candidate for Germany’s key party was beaten up while campaigning for European elections
7 months, 2 weeks ago

A candidate for Germany’s key party was beaten up while campaigning for European elections

LA Times  

A candidate for the center-left party of German Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz, left, was attacked while putting up campaign posters in Dresden. A candidate for Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s center-left party in next month’s election for the European Parliament was beaten up and seriously injured while campaigning in an eastern city, the party said Saturday. The main center-left grouping, the Party …

As EU election campaigns kick off in Germany, the Ukraine war, rise of far right are dominant themes
7 months, 3 weeks ago

As EU election campaigns kick off in Germany, the Ukraine war, rise of far right are dominant themes

Associated Press  

BERLIN — Several German parties on Saturday kicked off their campaigns for the election of the European Parliament in June with a focus on issues such as the war in Ukraine and support by many European voters for far-right nationalist parties across the continent. Responding to many German voters’ fears their country could be drawn into Ukraine’s war with Russia …

Germany’s Scholz warns of extremists stoking rage as farmers protest and discontent is high
11 months, 1 week ago

Germany’s Scholz warns of extremists stoking rage as farmers protest and discontent is high

Associated Press  

BERLIN — German Chancellor Olaf Scholz called for calm and a readiness to accept compromises on Saturday as the country faces protests by farmers angry about a plan to cut their fuel subsidies. The German chancellor said in a video message that “we took the farmers’ arguments to heart” and insisted the government came up with “a good compromise,” though …

Olaf Scholz and Germany's political mainstream facing a miserable 2024
11 months, 2 weeks ago

Olaf Scholz and Germany's political mainstream facing a miserable 2024

The Telegraph  

Germany’s mainstream political parties are facing a nightmare 2024 in which they risk being clobbered by the far-Right Alternative for Germany party in local and European elections. those who did not vote in past elections because of their general dissatisfaction with the political parties.” Germany’s decades-long struggle with the “Ost-West-Kluft” between the former Communist GDR and West Germany could also …

Germany’s Scholz pledges less infighting as his government works to boost the economy
1 year, 3 months ago

Germany’s Scholz pledges less infighting as his government works to boost the economy

Associated Press  

BERLIN — German Chancellor Olaf Scholz pledged on Wednesday that his government will tone down frequent public infighting that has weighed it down badly in polls as it works to pick up the country’s stagnant economy, Europe’s biggest. “It shouldn’t be heard any more.” Center-left Social Democrat Scholz leads a coalition of socially liberal parties that took power in late …

Germany’s opposition leader faces criticism over his comments on cooperation with the far right
1 year, 4 months ago

Germany’s opposition leader faces criticism over his comments on cooperation with the far right

Associated Press  

BERLIN — Germany’s opposition leader insisted on Monday that there will be no “cooperation” at the local level between his party and the far-right Alternative for Germany after his apparent suggestion that they might work together caused unease within his own conservative bloc. The leader of the other — Bavaria’s Christian Social Union, which faces a state election in October …

German conservatives try to entice discontented voters and push down far-right
1 year, 5 months ago

German conservatives try to entice discontented voters and push down far-right

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Please try again later {{ …

German conservatives try to entice discontented voters and push down far-right
1 year, 5 months ago

German conservatives try to entice discontented voters and push down far-right

Associated Press  

BERLIN — Leaders of Germany’s main opposition bloc called Friday for voters turned off by the government to back them in two major state elections this fall, arguing that they are the best bet for stability while voting for a burgeoning far-right party would bring no change. The center-right Union bloc — which currently leads both regions — hopes to …

Olaf Scholz’s ‘leaderless’ coalition blamed as AfD surges to level in polls with his party
1 year, 6 months ago

Olaf Scholz’s ‘leaderless’ coalition blamed as AfD surges to level in polls with his party

The Telegraph  

Olaf Scholz has been blamed for a surge in support for Germany’s hard-Right AfD party, with the opposition saying that his “leaderless” coalition is undermining trust in democracy. Mario Czaja, party secretary of the Conservative CDU, said that voters were “losing faith” in the country’s democratic institutions due to the government’s “chaotic and leaderless policies”. Referring to the Infratest poll …

No deal yet on issues shaking up Germany’s ruling coalition
1 year, 8 months ago

No deal yet on issues shaking up Germany’s ruling coalition

Associated Press  

BERLIN — All-night talks failed Monday to break the political deadlock over a series of issues that threaten to divide German Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s coalition. Scholz and several of his ministers flew to Rotterdam for long-planned talks with the Dutch government Monday, leaving unfinished business back home. Last-minute efforts by the Free Democrats to prevent a complete ban on combustion …

German state election offers 1st test since Scholz took over
2 years, 8 months ago

German state election offers 1st test since Scholz took over

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy The western German state of …

Who is Olaf Scholz, Germany’s successor to Merkel?
3 years, 2 months ago

Who is Olaf Scholz, Germany’s successor to Merkel?

Al Jazeera  

Berlin, Germany – In late 2019, Olaf Scholz’s bid to lead the German Social Democrats hit a brick wall. “He’s very clear, he doesn’t take too many words,” said Mathias Adler, editor of the popular Hamburg newsletter Tagesjournal. As mayor, Scholz had a penchant for grandiose projects, pushing ahead with plans for a skyscraper, known locally as the “Scholz tower”, …

Sidelined by rivals, Germany’s far-right AfD bides time
3 years, 3 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 …

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