https://feeds.thelocal.com/ Read the latest news and views from Europe in English en-us news@thelocal.com (TheLocal) webmaster@thelocal.com (TheLocal) TheLocal RSS Feed With the centre-right conservatives set to take the helm of the next German government, and the far-right having made significant gains, readers of The Local shared their thoughts on the election results. https://www.thelocal.com/20250225/a-fifth-of-voters-hate-me-how-do-foreigners-in-germany-feel-about-far-right-surge Tue, 25 Feb 2025 16:09:55 +0100 a-fifth-of-voters-hate-me-how-do-foreigners-in-germany-feel-about-far-right-surge After a close-run election, a new German parliament is coming together. Our columnist Brian Melican shares who the vote winners and losers are, and what the results mean for the next government. https://www.thelocal.com/20250224/opinion-merz-is-on-top-but-the-left-are-surprise-winners-in-germanys-dramatic-election Mon, 24 Feb 2025 15:51:34 +0100 opinion-merz-is-on-top-but-the-left-are-surprise-winners-in-germanys-dramatic-election German election winners, the conservatives, have started initial coalition talks with the SPD. But experts warn that forming a functioning government is just one of many challenges politicians need to overcome to tackle far-right gains. https://www.thelocal.com/20250225/can-germanys-next-leader-tackle-economic-woes-and-far-right-gains Tue, 25 Feb 2025 18:01:19 +0100 can-germanys-next-leader-tackle-economic-woes-and-far-right-gains CDU leader Friedrich Merz said he would get down to work after election win. But from warning against the AfD and addressing shaky US relations to his plans to meet with Benjamin Netanyahu, Merz may already be ruffling feathers. https://www.thelocal.com/20250224/netanyahu-trump-and-the-far-right-what-merz-said-the-day-after-german-election Mon, 24 Feb 2025 17:42:36 +0100 netanyahu-trump-and-the-far-right-what-merz-said-the-day-after-german-election The conservatives and the far-right have swept up nearly half the votes in Germany’s national election, but the results look very different between regions and among different demographics. We take a closer look at how Germans voted this time around. https://www.thelocal.com/20250224/how-did-different-groups-of-germans-vote-in-the-federal-election Mon, 24 Feb 2025 16:04:20 +0100 how-did-different-groups-of-germans-vote-in-the-federal-election Alternative for Germany (AfD) doubled its score in Germany's 2025 elections. But the nationalist right isn't just on the rise in Germany. Here's an overview of where they're gaining ground in Europe. https://www.thelocal.com/20250224/where-in-europe-is-the-hard-right-on-the-rise Mon, 24 Feb 2025 16:39:06 +0100 where-in-europe-is-the-hard-right-on-the-rise After the CDU/CSU emerged as the largest party in the federal election, one thing is certain: Germany is heading for a change of government. Which coalitions are possible according to the latest results? https://www.thelocal.com/20250224/what-kind-of-coalition-government-should-germany-expect-after-election Mon, 24 Feb 2025 13:07:28 +0100 what-kind-of-coalition-government-should-germany-expect-after-election The conservatives have won Germany's federal election, initial results show. How are other parties faring, what's the reaction and what happens next? https://www.thelocal.com/20250223/what-happens-next-in-germany-after-conservative-election-win Sun, 23 Feb 2025 22:10:22 +0100 what-happens-next-in-germany-after-conservative-election-win Germany's centre-right conservatives have swept to victory in the federal elections. What can foreigners expect from Friedrich Merz's party in government - and how could potential coalition partners alter their plans? https://www.thelocal.com/20250220/tax-to-citizenship-what-should-foreigners-in-germany-expect-from-a-cdu-led-government Thu, 20 Feb 2025 10:16:09 +0100 tax-to-citizenship-what-should-foreigners-in-germany-expect-from-a-cdu-led-government The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) is set to win the second largest share of votes in the federal election, early exit polls have shown. What might it mean for Germany's attitude to foreigners? https://www.thelocal.com/20250117/how-would-a-strong-afd-election-result-impact-foreigners-in-germany Fri, 17 Jan 2025 13:45:04 +0100 how-would-a-strong-afd-election-result-impact-foreigners-in-germany The centre-right CDU/CSU bloc is on course to win Germany's federal election with around 29 percent of the vote, initial exit polls showed on Sunday. https://www.thelocal.com/20250223/breaking-german-conservatives-lead-as-far-right-afd-make-gains-election-exit-polls-show Sun, 23 Feb 2025 19:03:31 +0100 breaking-german-conservatives-lead-as-far-right-afd-make-gains-election-exit-polls-show What will happen on the day, who can vote and what happens next? We round up all the key points to get you prepared for the snap election in Germany. https://www.thelocal.com/20250221/the-ultimate-guide-to-the-2025-german-election Fri, 21 Feb 2025 09:16:35 +0100 the-ultimate-guide-to-the-2025-german-election Germany's election campaign has been marked by anti-immigration rhetoric. But German hospitals are going viral for urging people to vote for "humanity". We spoke to Darmstadt Clinic to find out more. https://www.thelocal.com/20250219/why-a-darmstadt-hospital-is-showing-what-germany-would-look-like-without-immigration Wed, 19 Feb 2025 17:25:17 +0100 why-a-darmstadt-hospital-is-showing-what-germany-would-look-like-without-immigration Whether parental leave, benefits or childcare, the next German government will have a big impact on family life. Here's what to know about key party pledges ahead of the election. https://www.thelocal.com/20250212/the-german-election-party-pledges-that-families-should-know-about Wed, 12 Feb 2025 17:01:40 +0100 the-german-election-party-pledges-that-families-should-know-about With just over a week until Germany goes to the polls, it looks certain that Friedrich Merz will lead the next government. But what kind of chancellor will he be? Given recent events, expect a political rollercoaster, writes columnist Brian Melican. https://www.thelocal.com/20250214/opinion-foreigners-in-germany-can-expect-volatile-months-ahead-with-merz-as-chancellor Fri, 14 Feb 2025 17:03:50 +0100 opinion-foreigners-in-germany-can-expect-volatile-months-ahead-with-merz-as-chancellor Germany has been in the throes of a housing crisis for years, with a lack of affordable homes in many regions. With a nationwide election coming up, what are political parties promising to do about it? https://www.thelocal.com/20250205/how-germanys-political-parties-plan-to-tackle-high-rents-and-create-affordable-homes Wed, 05 Feb 2025 15:05:14 +0100 how-germanys-political-parties-plan-to-tackle-high-rents-and-create-affordable-homes The conservatives, who are leading in German polls, have put together an 'immediate action plan' they want to put in place if they win the election. It contains references to dismantling part of the citizenship law and tightening migration rules. https://www.thelocal.com/20250203/what-is-the-cdus-immediate-action-plan-that-targets-german-citizenship-law Mon, 03 Feb 2025 15:23:07 +0100 what-is-the-cdus-immediate-action-plan-that-targets-german-citizenship-law Germany's proportional voting system means most governments are made up of a coalition of at least two parties - which affects what laws are possible. Here are the most likely coalitions to happen after the federal elections on February 23rd. https://www.thelocal.com/20250203/which-coalition-governments-are-most-likely-after-germanys-election Mon, 03 Feb 2025 10:51:59 +0100 which-coalition-governments-are-most-likely-after-germanys-election A motion to tighten up German borders and asylum rules controversially passed the Bundestag this week, relying on votes from the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD). But a second motion may tell us more about where dual citizenship is headed. https://www.thelocal.com/20250131/what-a-failed-cdu-motion-tells-us-about-the-future-of-dual-citizenship-in-germany Fri, 31 Jan 2025 11:03:40 +0100 what-a-failed-cdu-motion-tells-us-about-the-future-of-dual-citizenship-in-germany With a crucial German election coming up on February 23rd, we look at how many foreign residents living in Germany don't have a say - and highlight who can vote. https://www.thelocal.com/20250128/why-around-10-million-people-in-germany-cant-vote-in-the-election Tue, 28 Jan 2025 13:15:38 +0100 why-around-10-million-people-in-germany-cant-vote-in-the-election