SPIEGEL ONLINE
- May 24, 2012
German Chancellor Angela Merkel held a summit Wednesday to review the lack of progress in the country's dramatic nuclear phaseout and shift to renewable energies. On the editorial pages, many commentators are critical of government policies that have caused electricity prices to soar. more...
SPIEGEL ONLINE
- May 23, 2012
After years of growth, Germany's Left Party is in disarray. Weeks of bitter infighting have weakened the far-left party and now its most important figure Oskar Lafontaine has withdrawn his candidacy for its leadership. German commentators say he alone is to blame for the chaos left behind. more...
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 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
Chancellor Angela Merkel sacked Environment Minister Norbert Röttgen on Wednesday, replacing him with her close aide Peter Altmaier. Röttgen, a former protege of the chancellor, lost a major election for Merkel's conservative party on Sunday. 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...
SPIEGEL ONLINE
- May 14, 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
- May 14, 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
- May 14, 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 ]
