SPIEGEL ONLINE
- May 24, 2012
French President François Hollande managed to set the tone at his first EU summit with his proposal for euro bonds. It was the first such meeting in years that was not dominated by Chancellor Merkel. Hollande wanted to send the message that France will be more assertive in the future. By Carsten Volkery in Brussels more... [ Forum ]
SPIEGEL ONLINE
- May 22, 2012
The situation has seldom been this serious for German Chancellor Angela Merkel. The leader is increasingly isolated in Europe because of her rigid austerity policies, while at home, criticism is growing of her decision to fire her environment minister last week. Her new toughness could backfire by making her look unsympathetic to voters, say analysts. By Philipp Wittrock more... [ Forum ]
SPIEGEL ONLINE
- May 21, 2012
French President François Hollande has reignited the debate over euro bonds ahead of this week's informal EU summit. Germany has repeated its opposition to jointly issued debt. German commentators are divided over the merits of euro bonds, but agree that Chancellor Merkel will have to make concessions. more... [ Forum ]
SPIEGEL ONLINE
- May 21, 2012
NATO leaders gathered in Chicago are faced with an ever-worsening conundrum: How can they cut military expenditures while at the same time boosting the alliance's military capabilities? The answer is called "Smart Defense," and critics worry it could result in the weakening of the alliance. By Sebastian Fischer and Matthias Gebauer more...
SPIEGEL ONLINE
- May 21, 2012
French President François Hollande will put German Chancellor Angela Merkel under pressure at Wednesday's EU summit to agree to euro bonds, which she has so far strictly opposed. Italy and Britain are expected to back Hollande in a further sign that Merkel is increasingly isolated in Europe with her austerity plan for saving the euro. more...
SPIEGEL ONLINE
- May 18, 2012
Angela Merkel isn't known for her brutality. But her firing of her environment minister has German editorialists taking a new look at the chancellor. They see a leader desperately trying to keep her party, and all of Europe, from falling apart at the seams. more...
SPIEGEL ONLINE
- May 17, 2012
Responding to her party's massive defeat in elections in Germany's most populous state last weekend, Angela Merkel has fired Norbert Röttgen, the federal environment minister who was also the CDU's leading candidate in North Rhine-Westphalia. The move was an extraordinarily rare one in Germany and showed a cold side of Merkel that is seldom visible. By Philipp Wittrock more... [ Forum ]
SPIEGEL ONLINE
- May 17, 2012
Chancellor Angela Merkel has shown her tough side by firing Environment Minister Norbert Röttgen after he lost a key state election for her conservative party. The demise of the former political star is yet another sign of the ongoing disintegration of Merkel's government. Röttgen is the latest in a long line of senior conservatives who has met with a sticky end. A Commentary by Roland Nelles more... [ Forum ]
SPIEGEL ONLINE
- May 16, 2012
Just hours after his rain-soaked inauguration, new French President François Hollande flew to Berlin to meet with the German chancellor. The pair did all they could to exude amiability, but with Hollande now intent on fulfilling his myriad campaign promises, it remains to be seen how long the congeniality will last. By Severin Weiland in Berlin more...
SPIEGEL ONLINE
- May 15, 2012
Social Democrat Hannelore Kraft is the big winner in last Sunday's crucial state election in North Rhine-Westphalia. And she triumphed by taking a page from Chancellor Angela Merkel's playbook, German commentators say. The infusion of feminine politics could mark the country's political scene for years to come. more...
SPIEGEL ONLINE
- May 15, 2012
Hopes that Chancellor Angela Merkel will back down from her strict insistence on austerity are likely to be dashed despite mounting European criticism of her policy and a crushing state election defeat for her party on Sunday. Most Germans like how she has handled the crisis, say analysts. By David Crossland more...
