February 09, 2010, 04:48 PM
SOCIAL BENEFITS UNDER REVIEW
Germany's highest court has ordered the government to revise its welfare benefit system for the long-term unemployed and their families in a landmark ruling that could cost the government billions of euros. The ruling may put further pressure on an already taxed budget. more...
February 05, 2010, 06:59 PM
A PARALYZING STATE ELECTION
Jürgen Rüttgers, the powerful governor of North Rhine-Westphalia, currently holds the reins of German politics. He doesn't want anyone rocking the boat before crucial state elections in May and is hampering much-needed reforms. He could even pose a challenge to Chancellor Angela Merkel. By Rene Pfister more... [ Forum ]
February 03, 2010, 11:34 AM
COMPETING VISIONS
After years of eroding support, Germany's Social Democrats are back in the opposition. But the party is having difficulty charting its course. Party leaders Sigmar Gabriel and Frank-Walter Steinmeier have competing visions for how the SPD should attempt to return to power. By Markus Feldenkirchen and Christoph Hickmann more... [ Forum ]
February 01, 2010, 03:23 PM
POOR MARX
There is no disputing that German Chancellor Angela Merkel was an excellent student of physics. But a look into her student files reveals that, when it came to Marxist-Leninist ideology, she wasn't quite as accomplished. more...
February 01, 2010, 03:21 PM
THE WORLD FROM BERLIN
Chancellor Angela Merkel's new center-right coalition has been in office for 100 days this week, and media commentators aren't impressed with its performance or with Merkel's leadership. more...
January 25, 2010, 03:15 PM
THE WORLD FROM BERLIN
Oskar Lafontaine, the populist leader of Germany's Left Party, has stepped down for health reasons. He was a thorn in the side of the center-left Social Democrats, and his departure removes an obstacle to a broad left-wing alliance that could pose problems for Chancellor Angela Merkel, commentators say. more...
January 20, 2010, 11:33 AM
THE MILLIONAIRE PARTY
Tax cuts for hotel owners, Health Ministry jobs for insurance lobbyists: Germany's Free Democrats, junior coalition partner in Chancellor Merkel's coalition, are reviving their reputation as a party of the wealthy. By SPIEGEL Staff
more... [ Forum ]
January 18, 2010, 01:50 PM
DODGY DEALS AND SLUSH FUNDS
The trial of the former arms lobbyist Karlheinz Schreiber, who is connected to a major German political scandal of the 1990s, began Monday. Schreiber's testimony could shed light on dodgy dealings in German politics and may prove very uncomfortable for Bavaria's conservative Christian Social Union party. By Conny Neumann and Barbara Schmid more... [ Forum ]
January 13, 2010, 02:32 PM
MERKEL'S REVOLUTION
German Chancellor Angela Merkel has initiated dramatic changes within her Christian Democratic Party. The old guard has lost influence and the CDU is heading to the left. But Merkel risks alienating the party base. By Ralf Beste, Markus Feldenkirchen, René Pfister and Christian Reiermann more... [ Forum ]
January 12, 2010, 12:42 PM
MERKEL'S HEADACHE
Resistance to a plan for a major 20 billion euro tax cut in 2011 is growing in the German government. Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservatives doubt that Germany can afford it, while their coalition partners, the pro-business Free Democrats, is insisting the cuts go ahead. The bickering is putting additional pressure on Merkel to show more leadership. more...
