The Local Germany

Merkel pledges over 1/4 of UN Syria aid target

Thu, 04 Feb 2016 12:34:34 +0100

Angela Merkel has pledged €2.3 billion in German aid to victims of the Syrian civil war at a donor conference in London, broadcaster N-tv reports - more than a quarter of the total UN target.

Germany's opposition 'in Merkel's shadow'

Sat, 12 Dec 2015 13:02:03 +0100

Germany's Social Democrats are struggling at a party congress this week to emerge from Angela Merkel's shadow, where they've languished for a decade and been unable to exploit her current weakness in the polls.

Merkel draws battle lines for 2017 election

Tue, 09 Dec 2014 10:20:00 +0100

UPDATE: Chancellor Merkel used her speech at the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) conference to set out her stall for the 2017 election battle, with particularly harsh words for junior coalition partners the Social Democratic Party (SPD).

Liberals give fighting talk at party conference

Sat, 21 Apr 2012 19:06:00 +0200

The leader of the ailing junior coalition partners the business-friendly Free Democrats (FDP) put on a brave show at the party conference on Saturday, putting his group forward as Germany’s only real freedom fighters.

Karzai slams Pakistan for boycotting Bonn talks

Sun, 04 Dec 2011 10:06:00 +0100

Afghan President Hamid Karzai has accused Pakistan of undermining negotiations with the ban by boycotting an international conference on Afghanistan starting Monday in Bonn.

New SPD leaders flag fresh tax approach

Sun, 15 Nov 2009 12:39:00 +0100

The centre-left Social Democrats will rebuild their shattered reputation as a Volkspartei – or “people’s party” – new chairman Sigmar Gabriel announced Sunday, wrapping up the party's conference with a clear signal that there is a new generation in charge.

Gabriel urges SPD to avoid lurch to the left

Sat, 14 Nov 2009 14:21:00 +0100

The centre-left Social Democrats’ new chairman Sigmar Gabriel on Friday night called on his party to resist the urge to swing to the left despite its recent historic election loss, and instead to recapture the political centre.