The Local Germany

German President Steinmeier to run for second term

Fri, 28 May 2021 16:58:58 +0200

German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier said Friday he will stand for a second five-year term in the largely ceremonial role, seen as providing a kind of moral compass for the country.

German president Steinmeier 'greatly relieved' at US change of power

Wed, 20 Jan 2021 12:35:40 +0100

German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier expressed relief that Joe Biden was replacing Donald Trump as US president on Wednesday, calling it a "good day for democracy".

'We must help people in their grief': Germany calls for memorial service to honour coronavirus victims

Mon, 07 Sep 2020 10:31:09 +0200

German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier has called for an official memorial service to commemorate victims of the coronavirus pandemic in Germany.

German President 'irritated' with how Trump's presidency is going

Mon, 24 Jul 2017 12:23:28 +0200

German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier said in a TV interview that though he is "irritated" about a lot of things happening under US President Donald Trump, he still has hope for the transatlantic relationship.

Top German presidential pick blasts Trump’s role in divided US

Fri, 27 Jan 2017 12:08:30 +0100

The presumed future President of Germany said in an interview that even Donald Trump should not deny that he has been part of fostering the United States' internal divisions.

German foreign minister 'perplexed' by Trump's Nazi claim

Thu, 12 Jan 2017 18:04:22 +0100

Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said on Thursday he was "perplexed" by Donald Trump comparing the leak of a dossier of unsubstantiated allegations against him to something that could have happened in Nazi Germany.

Berlin summons Turkish envoy after MP arrests

Fri, 04 Nov 2016 12:26:14 +0100

Germany on Friday summoned Turkey's envoy after Ankara detained almost a dozen lawmakers from the main pro-Kurdish party, warning that a crackdown against terror should not be used as an excuse to silence the opposition.

Conference on Syrian migrants set for Germany

Sun, 28 Sep 2014 11:10:00 +0200

Germany will host an international conference next month to mobilize aid for Syrian refugees after the launch of US-led airstrikes, the foreign minister has told the United Nations.

Berlin urges Afghan rivals to solve vote crisis

Sun, 07 Sep 2014 10:32:12 +0200

German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier on Saturday urged the two rivals in Afghanistan's disputed presidential elections to find a rapid solution to end the crisis over the vote.

Minister's jet grounded twice in a month

Thu, 24 Apr 2014 18:29:00 +0200

German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier had to wait for two hours on a runway on Wednesday night due to a technical glitch on his plane - the second problem the jet has had in a month.

Germany warns of war in Europe

Mon, 14 Apr 2014 17:23:00 +0200

Germany warned of war in Europe on Monday, with vice chancellor Sigmar Gabriel stating the continent was being "dragged" into a "smouldering conflict" with Russia over Ukraine.

Merkel toppled from popularity throne

Fri, 07 Feb 2014 11:37:00 +0100

Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier has overtaken Angela Merkel to become Germany’s most popular politician, a poll on Friday showed, with the Chancellor slipping from the top spot for the first time in two years.

Germany pledges aid to Greece, urges reform

Fri, 10 Jan 2014 13:20:00 +0100

Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier promised further financial aid to Greece as he met with Greek premier Antonis Samaras in Athens on Friday morning. In return the government must push forward with reforms, he warned.

Germany to launch EU charm offensive

Wed, 08 Jan 2014 09:02:00 +0100

Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said on Tuesday he hoped to rectify his country's image in Europe, where Germany is often accused of being behind tough belt-tightening economic policies.

German minister hails Khodorkovsky release

Sun, 22 Dec 2013 11:45:00 +0100

Germany's foreign minister says Russia's release of former oligarch Mikhail Khodorkovsky offers a good basis for further talks with Moscow on human rights issues, in a Sunday newspaper.

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.

Leadership dilemma dogs centre-left troika

Mon, 13 Aug 2012 13:21:00 +0200

Germany's main opposition Social Democratic Party (SPD) looks set to become devoured by the question of who will lead them into next autumn’s election - despite their best efforts to avoid a decision until early next year.

Social Democrats gain support amid euro crisis

Wed, 14 Sep 2011 13:47:00 +0200

Popular support for the Social Democratic Party is at its highest level since 2008, reaching 29 percent, according to the latest Stern-RTL survey.

Steinmeier's kidney donation successful

Wed, 25 Aug 2010 10:16:00 +0200

Social Democratic parliamentary leader Frank-Walter Steinmeier's kidney transplant to his wife was successful and both patients are now recovering, a media report said on Wednesday.

Steinmeier takes leave to donate kidney to wife

Mon, 23 Aug 2010 12:24:00 +0200

Parliamentary leader for the centre-left Social Democrats, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, announced Monday that he would be taking time off until October to donate a kidney to his ailing wife.