Cost of living protests to spread to Germany and reignite in France on Halloween Activists call for people to make their anger known over poor public services including education and housing The Guardian - UK · Oct 30
AfD leader threatens to pull German funding for Ukraine and repeats Putin talking points in worrying interview German chancellor Friedrich Merz said meanwhile that giving up on Kyiv would have ‘an enormous impact on the entire political order of this continent’ The Independent UK · Oct 15
German minister quits after ‘indecent’ attacks intensify during bereavement Fragile coalition suffers another blow as labour minister and co-leader of SPD Bärbel Bas leaves both posts The Guardian - UK · Oct 12
Two more election defeats pile pressure on German chancellor Friedrich Merz Friedrich Merz’s demeanour was grim as he stepped before the cameras on Sunday evening to address his Christian Democratic Union (CDU) party after two more disappointing state election results. Following what the German chancellor had called the CDU’s “worst defeat in many years” in Saxony-Anhalt two weeks ago, Merz described… The Conversation · Sep 21
Chancellor vows to stay on for Germany’s ‘democratic future’ after latest loss to far-right AfD Merz seeks to shore up support after CDU loses two state elections and is ejected from Mecklenburg parliament The Guardian - UK · Sep 21
AfD tops another German state poll, Merz’s CDU crashes to historic low Germany's AfD party has won the state election in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, delivering a major blow to Chancellor Merz's Christian Democratic Union. This outcome underscores growing voter dissatisfaction concerning economic challenges and migration policies. Many voters were also swayed by their opposition to Berlin's stance on Ukraine. Mainstream political parties continue… The Times of India · Sep 21
‘Disastrous’: Germany’s Merz faces mounting pressure after fresh CDU defeats German Chancellor Friedrich Merz suffered a fresh electoral setback on Sunday as his Christian Democratic Union (CDU) lost ground in two state elections, but he rejected suggestions that his government would backtrack on its reform agenda. The Times of India · Sep 20
Exit polls show Merz’s party suffering heavy losses in 2 German state elections Merz’s centre-right Christian Democratic Union is projected to fall to 5.5% in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. That would be its worst result there since World War II. The CDU is projected to come in second with 20%, behind the Left party at 24.5%, according to the exit poll by public broadcaster ARD Euronews · Sep 20
"Everything happening in Europe is result of systemic mistakes by the West": Putin on rise of 'Alternative for Germany' Russian President Vladimir Putin blamed Western systemic mistakes for current European challenges. The far-right Alternative for Germany party surged to first place in Saxony-Anhalt elections. This historic win marks the first time a far-right party topped a state election since World War II. Former Chancellor Angela Merkel acknowledged some past… The Economic Times · Sep 12
‘Germany is back’: 3 ways NZ can benefit from Europe’s renewed centre of power It’s unlikely many New Zealanders paid close attention to Foreign Minister Winston Peters’ statement late last year that “New Zealand and Germany are committed to enhancing their partnership”. The Conversation · Apr 8, 2025
Friedrich Merz: Who is Germany’s election winner and how will he fare against AfD leader Alice Weidel? Friedrich Merz has taken aim at the US and says Europe must stand up for itself The Independent UK · Feb 24, 2025
Who is Friedrich Merz, the man now most likely to lead Germany? Eight things to know With the social democrat Olaf Scholz conceding defeat to the centre right in Germany’s election, the man most likely to be named the next chancellor will be Christian Democratic Union (CDU) leader Friedrich Merz. The Conversation · Feb 24, 2025
Friedrich Merz has won Germany’s election. But as the far right soars, forming a government may be difficult Friedrich Merz’s centre-right Christian Democratic Union (CDU) has captured the highest proportion of votes in Germany’s election on Sunday. The celebrations could be short-lived, though, as the task of forming a government now looms. The Conversation · Feb 24, 2025
German Vote Winner Merz Faces Tough Talks To Build Govt Germany's conservative election winner Friedrich Merz vowed to get to work Monday on the arduous task of building a new coalition government, warning "the world isn't waiting for us". International Business Times · Feb 24, 2025
Al Jazeera · Feb 23, 2025 Germany’s CDU ahead in election exit poll, strong support for far right Friedrich Merz from the conservative Christian Democratic Union (CDU) is on track to be Germany’s next chancellor.
Radio France Internationale · Feb 23, 2025 Who are the candidates for chancellor in Germany's elections? This Sunday, 23 February, Germans vote in parliamentary elections, deciding who will occupy the 630 seats of the Bundestag and who will be the country's next chancellor. Who are the candidates, and what are their views on Germany's relationship with France?
Al Jazeera · Feb 22, 2025 German frontrunner pledges to lead in Europe before key election German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and opposition leader Friedrich Merz appeal to voters before Sunday’s election.
Al Jazeera · Feb 19, 2025 Far right set to make strides in a German election dominated by immigration Mainstream parties struggle to retain voters in a fragmented political landscape.
The Independent UK · Sep 17, 2024 German opposition Christian Democrats tap leader Friedrich Merz as their candidate for chancellor Germany’s opposition center-right Christian Democratic Union has chosen its leader Friedrich Merz to be its candidate for chancellor in next year’s national election
Al Jazeera · May 25, 2024 Punched, choked, kicked: German police crack down on student protests Germany’s students protesting against Israel’s war on Gaza say their right to free speech is under attack.
The Guardian - UK · Jul 24, 2023 German centre-right leader retreats from remarks about working with AfD Friedrich Merz suggested his CDU was willing to cooperate with far-right party at local level, but rows back after outraged reaction
Tribune News Service · May 8, 2022 Chancellor Scholz’s party trounced in Ukraine-tinged German state election German Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s Social Democrats suffered their first defeat in a regional election since he took office in December, tumbling by some 12 percentage points in the state of Schleswig-Holstein while the Christian Democratic Union gained, according to exit polls.
Asharq Al-Awsat · May 3, 2022 German Opposition Leader Visits Kyiv, Scholz Refuses to Go Germany’s conservative opposition leader traveled to Kyiv on Tuesday for meetings with Ukrainian officials including President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, as Chancellor Olaf Scholz made clear that he wouldn’t be visiting Ukraine any time soon. Scholz has traded barbs with Ukrainian officials in recent weeks because of Kyiv's refusal to invite Germany's…
The Independent UK · Jan 31, 2022 Merz takes over as center-right opposition leader in Germany Friedrich Merz has formally took over as the leader of Germany’s main opposition party, the center-right Christian Democratic Union of ex-Chancellor Angela Merkel, after being elected by a postal ballot
The Independent UK · Jan 25, 2022 German far-right names long-shot presidential candidate The far-right Alternative for Germany party has presented a member of former Chancellor Angela Merkel’s Christian Democratic Union as its long-shot candidate to become the country’s next president, prompting his own party to call for him to leave or face possible expulsion