http://www.spiegel.de Daily news, analysis and opinion from Europe's leading newsmagazine and Germany's top news Web site. en Fri, 24 May 2013 15:26:47 +0200 Fri, 24 May 2013 15:26:47 +0200 http://www.spiegel.de http://www.spiegel.de/static/sys/logo_120x61.gif http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/report-cites-rise-in-low-wage-workers-dependent-on-welfare-benefits-a-898693.html#ref=rss Germany's low unemployment rate is the envy of much of Europe. Yet it masks the difficulties many working Germans have in making ends meet and their reliance on welfare benefits. The issue could become important as the election campaign heats up. Wed, 08 May 2013 13:10:04 +0200 http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/report-cites-rise-in-low-wage-workers-dependent-on-welfare-benefits-a-898693.html Germany's low unemployment rate is the envy of much of Europe. Yet it masks the difficulties many working Germans have in making ends meet and their reliance on welfare benefits. The issue could become important as the election campaign heats up.]]> http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/former-minister-france-no-role-model-for-germany-a-897671.html#ref=rss The parliamentary leader of Chancellor Angela Merkel's junior coalition partner, the Free Democrats (FDP), and a former German economics minister publicly criticized the French government under Socialist President François Hollande Thursday in a move that highlights the tension between the two countries. Thu, 02 May 2013 12:08:00 +0200 http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/former-minister-france-no-role-model-for-germany-a-897671.html The parliamentary leader of Chancellor Angela Merkel's junior coalition partner, the Free Democrats (FDP), and a former German economics minister publicly criticized the French government under Socialist President François Hollande Thursday in a move that highlights the tension between the two countries. ]]> http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/comment-on-german-minister-asian-appearance-sparks-racism-debate-a-882225.html#ref=rss Do Germans accept public figures with foreign roots? A politician who asked this question about Vietnamese-born Vice Chancellor Philipp Rösler has critics calling him racist. But his party has come to his defense, saying the problem must be addressed. Fri, 08 Feb 2013 14:02:00 +0100 http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/comment-on-german-minister-asian-appearance-sparks-racism-debate-a-882225.html Do Germans accept public figures with foreign roots? A politician who asked this question about Vietnamese-born Vice Chancellor Philipp Rösler has critics calling him racist. But his party has come to his defense, saying the problem must be addressed. ]]> http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/merkel-distances-herself-from-fdp-after-key-state-election-loss-a-880811.html#ref=rss Following her party's failure in a major state election, Chancellor Angela Merkel is distancing herself from her junior coalition partner, the business-friendly Free Democrats. It is a risky move, and could indicate that she is aiming at a partnership with the opposition Social Democrats. <i>By SPIEGEL Staff</i> Thu, 31 Jan 2013 18:05:21 +0100 http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/merkel-distances-herself-from-fdp-after-key-state-election-loss-a-880811.html Following her party's failure in a major state election, Chancellor Angela Merkel is distancing herself from her junior coalition partner, the business-friendly Free Democrats. It is a risky move, and could indicate that she is aiming at a partnership with the opposition Social Democrats. By SPIEGEL Staff ]]> http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/leading-german-politicians-accused-of-inappropriate-advances-a-879417.html#ref=rss A journalist at a leading German weekly magazine claims that a politician who is his party's leading candidate in national elections made inappropriate advances toward her. The incident has sparked a debate about sexism in national politics. Thu, 24 Jan 2013 12:31:00 +0100 http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/leading-german-politicians-accused-of-inappropriate-advances-a-879417.html A journalist at a leading German weekly magazine claims that a politician who is his party's leading candidate in national elections made inappropriate advances toward her. The incident has sparked a debate about sexism in national politics. ]]> http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/lower-saxony-vote-hands-spd-candidate-steinbrueck-a-second-chance-a-878877.html#ref=rss Political pundits had begun writing off Peer Steinbrück, the Social Democrat nominee to challenge Chancellor Angela Merkel in general elections this September. But the SPD's victory in Lower Saxony has given the gaffe-prone politician a reprieve. The result shows Merkel is vulnerable despite her popularity. Tue, 22 Jan 2013 08:20:00 +0100 http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/lower-saxony-vote-hands-spd-candidate-steinbrueck-a-second-chance-a-878877.html http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/lower-saxony-election-results-make-fdp-dependent-on-merkel-a-878781.html#ref=rss The conservatives may be out of power in Lower Saxony, but the result was not a total debacle for Chancellor Angela Merkel. After 100,000 conservative voters opted to prop up the floundering Free Democrats, she now has control over two center-right parties, say commentators. Mon, 21 Jan 2013 13:21:49 +0100 http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/lower-saxony-election-results-make-fdp-dependent-on-merkel-a-878781.html http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/merkel-s-reelection-bid-suffers-setback-in-lower-saxony-election-a-878719.html#ref=rss Chancellor Angela Merkel suffered a setback in Sunday's state election in Lower Saxony, where her center-right alliance was ousted by the center-left opposition. The defeat comes just eight months before the general election and indicates that her bid for a third term could be tighter than expected. Mon, 21 Jan 2013 10:52:00 +0100 http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/merkel-s-reelection-bid-suffers-setback-in-lower-saxony-election-a-878719.html Chancellor Angela Merkel suffered a setback in Sunday's state election in Lower Saxony, where her center-right alliance was ousted by the center-left opposition. The defeat comes just eight months before the general election and indicates that her bid for a third term could be tighter than expected. ]]> http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/lower-saxony-state-election-too-close-to-call-after-polls-close-a-878652.html#ref=rss Chancellor Angela Merkel and her Social Democrat challenger in the September election, Peer Steinbrück, both wanted a boost from Sunday's state vote in Lower Saxony. But it was so close that neither got what they were hoping for. If anything, the result shows that despite Merkel's popularity, her bid for a third term could be a very tight race. Sun, 20 Jan 2013 20:15:00 +0100 http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/lower-saxony-state-election-too-close-to-call-after-polls-close-a-878652.html http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/lower-saxony-election-could-foretell-national-vote-a-878457.html#ref=rss Voters in the state of Lower Saxony are heading to the polls on Sunday in a neck-and-neck vote that has profound implications for general elections later this year. The center-left Social Democrats are particularly apprehensive. Fri, 18 Jan 2013 18:53:21 +0100 http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/lower-saxony-election-could-foretell-national-vote-a-878457.html Voters in the state of Lower Saxony are heading to the polls on Sunday in a neck-and-neck vote that has profound implications for general elections later this year. The center-left Social Democrats are particularly apprehensive.]]> http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/lower-saxony-governor-david-mcallister-faces-difficult-state-election-a-876644.html#ref=rss With Braveheart-style bagpipe music, David McAllister, the half-Scottish governor of Lower Saxony, is fighting to stay in office in an election later this month. A loss wouldn't bode well for Chancellor Angela Merkel, who could suffer the same fate in the September. Wed, 09 Jan 2013 18:27:00 +0100 http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/lower-saxony-governor-david-mcallister-faces-difficult-state-election-a-876644.html http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/merkel-reelection-at-risk-from-weakness-of-coalition-partner-a-876197.html#ref=rss Chancellor Angela Merkel is at the peak of her popularity. But her coalition partner is in abysmal shape, an ongoing train wreck that only got worse over the weekend. Should it not return to health, Merkel might have difficulties staying in office after next fall's election. Mon, 07 Jan 2013 18:11:29 +0100 http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/merkel-reelection-at-risk-from-weakness-of-coalition-partner-a-876197.html Chancellor Angela Merkel is at the peak of her popularity. But her coalition partner is in abysmal shape, an ongoing train wreck that only got worse over the weekend. Should it not return to health, Merkel might have difficulties staying in office after next fall's election.]]> http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/germans-support-merkel-amid-doubts-about-government-performance-a-868034.html#ref=rss Almost 70 percent of Germans believe that Angela Merkel's government pursues special interests to the detriment of the public good. Sixty-five percent say her government isn't doing enough to address Germany's future problems. Yet the chancellor remains the country's most popular politician, far ahead of her challenger in next year's general elections. Mon, 19 Nov 2012 12:05:00 +0100 http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/germans-support-merkel-amid-doubts-about-government-performance-a-868034.html http://www.spiegel.de/international/zeitgeist/german-politician-under-fire-after-apparently-smoking-marijuana-on-tv-a-863664.html#ref=rss Smoking a joint on live television is tough to deny. But that is the predicament that one German politician finds himself in after he took a drag off a joint during a late-night talk show on Thursday night. He says he didn't believe that it was real marijuana, but the show's host says it was. Fri, 26 Oct 2012 16:09:00 +0200 http://www.spiegel.de/international/zeitgeist/german-politician-under-fire-after-apparently-smoking-marijuana-on-tv-a-863664.html Smoking a joint on live television is tough to deny. But that is the predicament that one German politician finds himself in after he took a drag off a joint during a late-night talk show on Thursday night. He says he didn't believe that it was real marijuana, but the show's host says it was. ]]> http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/german-economy-minister-roesler-criticized-for-comments-about-greece-a-846110.html#ref=rss German Economy Minister Philipp Rösler has been accused of being reckless and unprofessional after saying he is skeptical that Greece's reform efforts will succeed and that a Greek exit from the euro had "lost its horrors." But some senior members in Germany's ruling coalition agree with him. Tue, 24 Jul 2012 13:09:00 +0200 http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/german-economy-minister-roesler-criticized-for-comments-about-greece-a-846110.html German Economy Minister Philipp Rösler has been accused of being reckless and unprofessional after saying he is skeptical that Greece's reform efforts will succeed and that a Greek exit from the euro had "lost its horrors." But some senior members in Germany's ruling coalition agree with him.]]> http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/merkel-partner-gets-boost-from-strong-showing-in-schleswig-holstein-a-831814.html#ref=rss The FDP ended its series of humiliating election defeats by scoring a respectable 8.2 percent in the Schleswig-Holstein state election on Sunday. The result should help stabilize Chancellor Angela Merkel's center-right coalition at a time when she has her hands full tackling a Europe-wide rebellion against her austerity policies. Mon, 07 May 2012 16:32:02 +0200 http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/merkel-partner-gets-boost-from-strong-showing-in-schleswig-holstein-a-831814.html The FDP ended its series of humiliating election defeats by scoring a respectable 8.2 percent in the Schleswig-Holstein state election on Sunday. The result should help stabilize Chancellor Angela Merkel's center-right coalition at a time when she has her hands full tackling a Europe-wide rebellion against her austerity policies. ]]> http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/french-greek-and-schleswig-holstein-elections-show-risks-ahead-for-merkel-a-831671.html#ref=rss German Chancellor Angela Merkel can't be pleased about François Hollande's election victory, but it will at least be bearable for her. The newfound self-confidence of her junior coalition partner, the FDP, which scored a surprise success in the state election of Schleswig-Holstein on Sunday, poses a greater threat to the chancellor. Sun, 06 May 2012 22:54:00 +0200 http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/french-greek-and-schleswig-holstein-elections-show-risks-ahead-for-merkel-a-831671.html German Chancellor Angela Merkel can't be pleased about François Hollande's election victory, but it will at least be bearable for her. The newfound self-confidence of her junior coalition partner, the FDP, which scored a surprise success in the state election of Schleswig-Holstein on Sunday, poses a greater threat to the chancellor. ]]> http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/political-analysis-of-problems-facing-german-fdp-party-a-825567.html#ref=rss Chancellor Angela Merkel has been making policy concessions to her ailing coalition partner, the pro-business FDP, in a bid to 'keep it above water,' as one advisor puts it. But the party is bent on confrontation with the conservatives, which it sees as the only way to sharpen its profile and win back voters. Wed, 04 Apr 2012 08:57:00 +0200 http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/political-analysis-of-problems-facing-german-fdp-party-a-825567.html http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/pirate-party-emerges-as-political-force-in-germany-a-823993.html#ref=rss Germany's political establishment doesn't know how to react to the Pirate Party, which now has seats in two state parliaments and owns the debate on Internet issues. But although the party's radical experiments in transparency and participation may have caught its rivals off guard, its no-holds-barred debating culture can also backfire. <i>By SPIEGEL Staff</i> Wed, 28 Mar 2012 16:44:00 +0200 http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/pirate-party-emerges-as-political-force-in-germany-a-823993.html Germany's political establishment doesn't know how to react to the Pirate Party, which now has seats in two state parliaments and owns the debate on Internet issues. But although the party's radical experiments in transparency and participation may have caught its rivals off guard, its no-holds-barred debating culture can also backfire. By SPIEGEL Staff ]]> http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/german-press-review-on-saarland-regional-election-a-823738.html#ref=rss The success of the Pirate Party in Sunday's election in Saarland shows it will be a force to be reckoned with in coming elections, say German commentators. Angela Merkel will be able to draw some relief from the victory of her CDU in the state -- but her coalition partner, the FDP, sank further towards oblivion. Mon, 26 Mar 2012 12:41:00 +0200 http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/german-press-review-on-saarland-regional-election-a-823738.html The success of the Pirate Party in Sunday's election in Saarland shows it will be a force to be reckoned with in coming elections, say German commentators. Angela Merkel will be able to draw some relief from the victory of her CDU in the state -- but her coalition partner, the FDP, sank further towards oblivion.]]>