The Local Germany

Five ministers resign in Liberal party meltdown

Tue, 24 Sep 2013 12:17:00 +0200

The FDP meltdown continued late on Monday as the entire party leadership announced they would step down following Sunday's historic defeat. Five outgoing cabinet ministers, including Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle fell on their swords.

Liberal leader quits after poor poll showing

Mon, 23 Sep 2013 14:15:00 +0200

UPDATE: The FDP's leader Philipp Rösler stepped down on Monday morning after the party's worst result in its 65-year history. The Liberals were blasted from power, out of parliament and into the political doldrums.

Politicians push to give public its say

Sun, 10 Mar 2013 12:37:00 +0100

Following the successful referendum in Switzerland over manager salaries, there is growing pressure in Germany from leading politicians to give citizens a direct say on key issues, the Bild am Sonntag reported.

Fallout continues after Brüderle's nuclear gaffe

Fri, 25 Mar 2011 11:52:00 +0100

The government’s reversal on nuclear power caused further embarrassment Friday, with an industry leader contradicting Economy Minister Rainer Brüderle’s claim he was misquoted saying the backflip was an election tactic.

Brüderle slams business conditions in China

Thu, 06 Jan 2011 12:33:00 +0100

German Economy Minister Rainer Brüderle on Thursday slammed business conditions for Western firms operating in China ahead of a visit to Berlin by the country's vice premier Li Keqiang.

FDP debates ditching Westerwelle

Thu, 16 Dec 2010 16:01:00 +0100

Leading members of the pro-business Free Democratic Party are reportedly considering deposing Guido Westerwelle as party boss and foreign minister to reverse the FDP’s fortunes going into an important election year.

German ignorance of economics revealed

Mon, 13 Dec 2010 16:41:00 +0100

Germans know extremely little about economics and three quarters don't even have a full grasp of how percentages work, a new study has found.

German growth still solid and expanding

Tue, 23 Nov 2010 12:35:00 +0100

Germany’s economic rebound is broadening, Economy Minister Rainer Brüderle said on Tuesday, as he announced that growth had slowed but was still solid.

Brüderle slams US trade balance proposal

Fri, 22 Oct 2010 21:18:00 +0200

German Economy Minister Rainer Brüderle on Friday slammed a US proposal to regulate the trade balances of G20 nations as tantamount to abandoning free market principles.

Economy Minister wants points system for immigration

Sat, 21 Aug 2010 16:15:00 +0200

Economics Minister Rainer Brüderle says he wants to change the German immigration system along the lines of the Canadian points system, in order to identify and attract more well-qualified immigrants.

Brüderle says Germany to sell Commerzbank stake in three years

Mon, 02 Aug 2010 19:30:00 +0200

Germany hopes to sells its multi-billion-euro stake in Commerzbank "within three years at the latest," Economy Minister Rainer Brüderle said on Monday.

Merkel blasts economy minister's plan to recruit skilled migrants

Mon, 02 Aug 2010 10:39:00 +0200

Chancellor Angela Merkel and the Federal Employment Agency on Monday rejected an Economy Ministry proposal to accelerate recruitment for skilled migrants, saying Germany should focus on its own potential instead.

Germany touts lower deficit as an example to Europe

Mon, 05 Jul 2010 17:22:00 +0200

Germany's federal deficit is set to be much lower than expected, a draft budget suggested on Monday, as Berlin held up its tough line on spending as the best way for Europe to exit its debt crisis.

Premium rate service lines to drop fee for waiting callers

Sat, 19 Jun 2010 12:42:00 +0200

The infuriating telephone queues on premium rate customer ‘service’ lines where the caller pays in full to hear music or repeated recordings telling them how valued their custom is, will soon be free.

Merkel says states ready to help Opel

Fri, 11 Jun 2010 00:41:00 +0200

Four German states with Opel factories are ready to provide financial assistance to US auto giant General Motors, Chancellor Angela Merkel said Thursday after meeting regional officials.

Germany rejects state guarantees for Opel

Wed, 09 Jun 2010 19:51:00 +0200

The German government has turned down a request from General Motors for €1.1 billion ($1.3 billion) in state loan guarantees for its Opel unit, Economy Minister Rainer Brüderle said Wednesday.

Brüderle stays 'sceptical' about state aid for Opel

Tue, 01 Jun 2010 21:21:00 +0200

German Economy Minister Rainer Brüderle said Tuesday he was still "sceptical" about a request for state loan guarantees for troubled automaker Opel.

Business confidence hits two-year high

Fri, 23 Apr 2010 13:58:00 +0200

Business confidence in Germany rose sharply to a near two-year high in April, the closely watched Ifo index showed Friday, in another sign of recovery in Europe's top economy.

Government defends lengthy flight ban

Thu, 22 Apr 2010 11:06:00 +0200

Government leaders in Germany scrambled on Thursday to defend the decisions taken over the past week to clear the skies because of the threat of volcanic ash, as airlines continued to resume their normal flight schedules.

Minister says Hartz IV unfairly penalises teen summer jobs

Wed, 24 Mar 2010 10:57:00 +0100

Children of unemployed parents should be able to take holiday jobs without the additional income affecting their family’s Hartz IV welfare payments under a move to fix an “incomprehensible” flaw in the system, Economy Minister Rainer Brüderle said Wednesday.