The Local Germany

Brandenburg elections: In east German rust belt, economic fears boost far-right

Fri, 16 Aug 2019 11:58:23 +0200

Feeling ignored and short on resources, many in the east German state of Brandenburg are turning to the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) ahead of the September 1st state elections.

German offshore wind power breaks records

Thu, 30 Jul 2015 17:07:58 +0200

The amount of new offshore wind energy put on the grid in Germany in the first six months of 2015 has broken all previous annual records for Europe combined, a report released on Thursday shows.

Substitute teacher Merkel leads history class

Tue, 13 Aug 2013 18:57:00 +0200

Chancellor Angela Merkel filled in as a school history teacher Tuesday as part of her election campaign. The one-off marked the 52nd anniversary of the building of the Berlin Wall.

US-German relations ailing, says ex-FM

Mon, 03 Sep 2012 17:43:00 +0200

A former German foreign minister has voiced concern for German-American relations in the approach to the US presidential election. Re-electing President Barack Obama would be the “better option” for Europe, he said in an interview.

Merkel's coalition partner back in business

Fri, 25 May 2012 14:23:00 +0200

Angela Merkel's coalition partner the Free Democratic Party (FDP) is back above the crucial five percent mark in a major opinion poll – but that would still not be enough to provide the German chancellor with another government.

Merkel's partners reach key five percent support

Sun, 29 Apr 2012 12:01:00 +0200

The struggling Free Democratic Party obtained the key five percent of national support for the first time since August of last year, according to a poll released Sunday. This could put the junior coalition partner back in the political game.

Court eases entry to European Parliament

Wed, 09 Nov 2011 13:13:00 +0100

Germany’s Constitutional Court overturned a rule that meant political parties had to get at least five percent of the vote to send representatives to the European Parliament – opening the door to around seven more parties, on Wednesday.

Greens open to coalition with Merkel's CDU

Sat, 11 Jun 2011 11:56:00 +0200

Green Party boss Cem Özdemir has said that he could envisage a coalition with Chancellor Angela Merkel’s conservative Christian Democrats (CDU) after the next federal elections in 2013.

Steinbrück signals chancellorship ambitions

Sat, 14 May 2011 13:58:00 +0200

Former Finance Minister Peer Steinbrück has signalled his willingness to be a chancellor candidate for his Social Democratic Party, in an interview to be broadcast this weekend.

Hamburg vote set for February after coalition collapses

Mon, 29 Nov 2010 11:47:00 +0100

Following the collapse of Germany’s first state-level conservative-Green coalition in Hamburg, city officials announced Monday that an election will be held on February 20, 2011.

Number of German MPs with immigration background rises

Wed, 30 Sep 2009 18:22:00 +0200

Germany’s newly elected parliament has 15 MPs with foreign roots – more than ever before, daily Süddeutsche Zeitung reported on Wednesday.