The Local Germany

Parliament opens with record number of women

Tue, 22 Oct 2013 16:04:00 +0200

A former wrestler, an ex-TV detective and a record number of women entered parliament on Tuesday, one month after Chancellor Angela Merkel won elections.

Liberal MPs paid despite losing jobs

Mon, 21 Oct 2013 15:51:00 +0200

They were wiped out in the elections a month ago but as Germany slowly sorts out a government Liberal Party ministers remain in place. Their deputies will also be paid €22,000 over two months despite losing their seats in parliament.

SPD leaders agree to Merkel coalition talks

Mon, 21 Oct 2013 10:18:00 +0200

Leaders of the Social Democratic Party (SPD) agreed on Sunday to launch coalition talks with Chancellor Angela Merkel as she attempts to form a government for Europe's top economy.

Greens quit talks with Merkel over coalition

Wed, 16 Oct 2013 10:40:00 +0200

The Green party announced early on Wednesday that it has pulled out of talks with Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservatives on forming the next coalition government.

Merkel and centre-left party set for more talks

Mon, 14 Oct 2013 20:52:00 +0200

Chancellor Angela Merkel's Conservatives plan to hold a third round of talks with the Social Democrats (SPD) on Thursday about the possibility of forming a coalition government.

Merkel hopes for coalition within a week

Fri, 11 Oct 2013 15:00:00 +0200

Chancellor Angela Merkel met the opposition Social Democrats' leader on Friday, ahead of a decision expected next week on her preferred governing partner for Europe's biggest economy.

Again? Third of Germans want fresh elections

Thu, 10 Oct 2013 18:30:00 +0200

Germans are growing so tired of politicians dithering over forming a coalition government that a third would rather vote again in fresh elections, an opinion poll suggested on Thursday.

Greens elect leader and prepare for Merkel talks

Wed, 09 Oct 2013 10:41:00 +0200

Germany’s Green Party elected a new leader on Tuesday ahead of talks with Chancellor Angela Merkel on Thursday about forming a possible coalition.

Merkel and left-wing rival end first round of talks

Fri, 04 Oct 2013 16:25:00 +0200

UPDATE: Almost two weeks after winning the German elections, Chancellor Angela Merkel opened exploratory talks on Friday with her defeated centre-left rivals on whether they can jointly govern Europe's biggest economy.

Green Party warms up to Merkel coalition

Wed, 02 Oct 2013 17:32:00 +0200

Germany’s Green Party appears to be warming to the idea of joining Angela Merkel in government with its leaders giving off signals that the ecological party would welcome a return to the corridors of power.

Merkel to start coalition talks with SPD on Friday

Mon, 30 Sep 2013 13:37:00 +0200

Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservative party said it will start talks with the centre-left Social Democratic Party (SPD) on Friday on forming a possible left-right “grand coalition”.

Opposition drags heels over Merkel coalition

Wed, 25 Sep 2013 12:30:00 +0200

Three days after the election handed Angela Merkel's party a clear victory whilst destroying its key ally, the isolated victors are no closer to forming a new government. Josie Le Blond looks at where the Chancellor goes from here.

Liberal collapse worrying for Brit Lib Dems too

Tue, 24 Sep 2013 18:50:00 +0200

Voters abandoned Germany's Liberal party in their droves on Sunday after the party spent four years in coalition with the Conservative CDU. The result should be a stark warning to Britain's Liberal Democrats, argues The Local's Tom Bristow.

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.

Merkel 'open' to grand coalition with SPD

Mon, 23 Sep 2013 16:12:00 +0200

The day after her stunning election triumph, Chancellor Angela Merkel was on Monday set to start the process of haggling with potential partners over how to rule Europe's biggest economy. She has made first contact with the Social Democrats (SPD).

Green leadership quits en masse

Mon, 23 Sep 2013 16:00:00 +0200

Renate Künast and Jürgen Trittin on Tuesday joined Green party leaders Claudia Roth and Cem Özdemir in stepping down after Sunday's disappointing election result raised questions over the party's future direction.

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.

Merkel's CDU jubilant but coalition-cautious

Mon, 23 Sep 2013 13:12:00 +0200

The Christian Democrat (CDU) party was still in full swing early on Monday morning, The Local's Jessica Ware writes. Supporters were doing the conga, while politicians retreated to hash out possible coalition set-ups.

Far-left becomes third biggest party

Mon, 23 Sep 2013 12:06:00 +0200

Despite dropping a few percentage points since 2009, the socialist Left party (Die Linke) celebrated becoming the third biggest party in Germany on Sunday's election.

SPD supporters wary of Merkel coalition

Mon, 23 Sep 2013 11:46:00 +0200

The Social Democrats gained one in four German votes but it was not the result their candidate, Peer Steinbrück, was hoping for. It was at least better than in 2009 but at 25.7 percent it was still the party’s second worst result since World War Two.