SPIEGEL ONLINE - 15.05.2012
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 - 15.05.2012
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...
SPIEGEL ONLINE - 14.05.2012
Despite his anti-austerity rhetoric on the campaign trail and her open support for Nicolas Sarkozy, François Hollande and Angela Merkel are expected to make compromises during their first meeting on Tuesday. In the euro crisis, the pair has no choice but to get along. By Ralf Neukirch and Mathieu von Rohr more...
SPIEGEL ONLINE - 14.05.2012
The center-left in Germany has emerged from Sunday's crucial state vote strengthened and newly confident after crushing Angela Merkel's conservatives. It is a clear defeat for the chancellor, but there are pitfalls ahead for the Social Democrats as well. An Analysis by Roland Nelles more...
SPIEGEL ONLINE - 14.05.2012
Chancellor Angela Merkel has been weakened by the humiliating election defeat of her conservatives in the large state of North Rhine-Westphalia on Sunday. German media commentators say she will face a harder time securing backing for her austerity policy at home, at a time when resistance to it is building across Europe. more...
SPIEGEL ONLINE - 14.05.2012
The center-left Social Democrats and the Greens have emerged with a clear majority in elections in Germany's most populous state, North Rhine-Westphalia. The outcome is a significant setback for Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservatives and could further weaken the Christian Democrats in the run-up to national elections in 2013. more... [ Forum ]
SPIEGEL ONLINE - 10.05.2012
This Sunday's state election in North Rhine-Westphalia will put Germany's new political landscape in the spotlight. A multitude of parties is making it more difficult to form governing coalitions and a growing focus on personalities has analysts speaking of the 'Americanization' of German politics. By Charles Hawley more...
SPIEGEL ONLINE - 07.05.2012
With the election of François Hollande as French president, Nicolas Sarkozy is history -- as is the Merkozy duo in Berlin and Paris. German-French relations will have to be realigned. Given that the election has come in the midst of the euro crisis, Hollande and German Chancellor Angela Merkel will need to learn to get along quickly. By Philipp Wittrock more... [ Forum ]
SPIEGEL ONLINE - 07.05.2012
Chancellor Merkel's fear that Socialist candidate François Hollande might win the French election came true on Sunday. While their differing politics have some warning of difficult French-German relations to come, German editorialists argue Monday that the pragmatic politicians will make it work. more...
SPIEGEL ONLINE - 07.05.2012
Germany is intensifying its diplomatic pressure on Ukraine over its treatment of the imprisoned opposition leader Yulia Tymoshenko. SPIEGEL has learned that Chancellor Angela Merkel has been campaigning for a mass boycott of the European Football Championship in Ukraine by leaders across Europe if Kiev does not release Tymoshenko. more... [ Forum ]
