http://www.spiegel.de Daily news, analysis and opinion from Europe's leading newsmagazine and Germany's top news Web site. en Mon, 23 Nov 2009 01:21:53 +0100 Mon, 23 Nov 2009 01:21:53 +0100 German Politics http://www.spiegel.de http://www.spiegel.de/static/sys/logo_120x61.gif http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/0,1518,661720,00.html#ref=rss Finance Minister Wolfgang Schäuble is the most important member of Germany's new coalition government. He insists he is loyal to Chancellor Angela Merkel, but he could prove to be a thorn in her side. Thu, 19 Nov 2009 08:54:55 +0100 http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/0,1518,661720,00.html Finance Minister Wolfgang Schäuble is the most important member of Germany's new coalition government. He insists he is loyal to Chancellor Angela Merkel, but he could prove to be a thorn in her side.]]> http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/0,1518,662004,00.html#ref=rss Finding harmony in the new German coalition seems to be about as easy as herding cats. Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservatives have been at odds with their new coalition partners, the FDP, on almost every issue. German papers instruct the government to stop bickering in public and get on with running the country. Wed, 18 Nov 2009 15:37:54 +0100 http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/0,1518,662004,00.html Finding harmony in the new German coalition seems to be about as easy as herding cats. Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservatives have been at odds with their new coalition partners, the FDP, on almost every issue. German papers instruct the government to stop bickering in public and get on with running the country.]]> http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/0,1518,662018,00.html#ref=rss Left Party leader Oskar Lafontaine has announced he is suffering from cancer. The news has shocked the German political establishment and raised questions about the future of the far-left party, which has recently been gaining more and more support. Wed, 18 Nov 2009 14:32:11 +0100 http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/0,1518,662018,00.html Left Party leader Oskar Lafontaine has announced he is suffering from cancer. The news has shocked the German political establishment and raised questions about the future of the far-left party, which has recently been gaining more and more support.]]> http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/0,1518,661804,00.html#ref=rss The first weeks of Chancellor Angela Merkel's new government have been rife with incessant quarreling. From tax cuts to health care to history, the new coalition partners are struggling to find a common line. A two-day retreat may help. Tue, 17 Nov 2009 15:27:36 +0100 http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/0,1518,661804,00.html The first weeks of Chancellor Angela Merkel's new government have been rife with incessant quarreling. From tax cuts to health care to history, the new coalition partners are struggling to find a common line. A two-day retreat may help.]]> http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/0,1518,661587,00.html#ref=rss At their first national conference after defeat in September's federal elections, Germany's Social Democrats promised a fresh start. A new, younger leadership said they would boldly reclaim the political center. But commentators wonder where the Social Democrats can actually go from here. Mon, 16 Nov 2009 16:52:34 +0100 http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/0,1518,661587,00.html At their first national conference after defeat in September's federal elections, Germany's Social Democrats promised a fresh start. A new, younger leadership said they would boldly reclaim the political center. But commentators wonder where the Social Democrats can actually go from here.]]> http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/0,1518,661172,00.html#ref=rss Germany's once-proud Social Democrats suffered an historic defeat on election day in September. Now, the party is gathered in Dresden to begin the search for answers -- and for a fresh start. But a new poll indicates the road to recovery is, if anything, getting longer. Fri, 13 Nov 2009 16:20:08 +0100 http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/0,1518,661172,00.html Germany's once-proud Social Democrats suffered an historic defeat on election day in September. Now, the party is gathered in Dresden to begin the search for answers -- and for a fresh start. But a new poll indicates the road to recovery is, if anything, getting longer.]]> http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/0,1518,660692,00.html#ref=rss German Chancellor Angela Merkel gave an unusually punchy speech on the economy on Tuesday, warning Germans that things will get worse before they improve. Commentators say she has changed from the cautious "Mom" of the nation to a leader ready to take a massive gamble in the hope of boosting growth. Wed, 11 Nov 2009 15:30:43 +0100 http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/0,1518,660692,00.html German Chancellor Angela Merkel gave an unusually punchy speech on the economy on Tuesday, warning Germans that things will get worse before they improve. Commentators say she has changed from the cautious "Mom" of the nation to a leader ready to take a massive gamble in the hope of boosting growth.]]> http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/0,1518,660488,00.html#ref=rss History is a fickle object of desire, but Chancellor Angela Merkel's ambitions are modest. Still, a lot can go wrong in her pursuit of a legacy. Tuesday marked her first tentative steps toward the history books. Tue, 10 Nov 2009 18:09:59 +0100 http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/0,1518,660488,00.html History is a fickle object of desire, but Chancellor Angela Merkel's ambitions are modest. Still, a lot can go wrong in her pursuit of a legacy. Tuesday marked her first tentative steps toward the history books.]]> http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/0,1518,660232,00.html#ref=rss Guido Westerwelle hasn't yet revealed what his agenda will be as Germany's new foreign minister. But one thing is already certain: his role model is Hans-Dietrich Genscher, the elder statesman of the Free Democrat Party. Westerwelle aims to use his new position to enhance his domestic standing -- that's his priority. Tue, 10 Nov 2009 17:34:19 +0100 http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/0,1518,660232,00.html Guido Westerwelle hasn't yet revealed what his agenda will be as Germany's new foreign minister. But one thing is already certain: his role model is Hans-Dietrich Genscher, the elder statesman of the Free Democrat Party. Westerwelle aims to use his new position to enhance his domestic standing -- that's his priority.]]> http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/0,1518,660424,00.html#ref=rss Speaking in her first address to parliament since being sworn in for a second term two weeks ago, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said leading Germany back to growth is her top priority but warned that the nation faces a difficult 2010 as well as its biggest economic challenge since its 1990 reunification. Tue, 10 Nov 2009 13:53:22 +0100 http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/0,1518,660424,00.html Speaking in her first address to parliament since being sworn in for a second term two weeks ago, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said leading Germany back to growth is her top priority but warned that the nation faces a difficult 2010 as well as its biggest economic challenge since its 1990 reunification.]]>