SPIEGEL ONLINE
- May 08, 2013
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. more... [ Forum ]
SPIEGEL ONLINE
- April 01, 2013
In a SPIEGEL interview, former German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder, 68, talks about how difficult it is for citizens to accept military deployments abroad, the country's leadership role and what justifies war. more... [ Forum ]
SPIEGEL ONLINE
- March 13, 2013
The Agenda 2010 package of reforms German Social Democrats pushed through a decade ago played a huge role in the country's ability to weather recent economic crises. But the party itself has yet to recover -- and has abdicated its previous role as a driver of modernization. By Charles Hawley more... [ Forum ]
SPIEGEL ONLINE
- March 13, 2013
European social democrats are allowing themselves to be used by Kazakhstan's autocratic leader. Not only do they advocate for his regime abroad, they're also supporting him in a family dispute with his former son-in-law. And large sums of money are reportedly changing hands. By Walter Mayr more... [ Forum ]
SPIEGEL ONLINE
- March 12, 2013
He's not François Hollande, but one could be forgiven for believing he has taken his cue from the Socialist French president. On Monday, Peer Steinbrück, the chancellor candidate for the center-left Social Democratic Party, said he wants to significantly increase taxes for Germany's top earners if elected in September.
By Daryl Lindsey more...
SPIEGEL ONLINE
- February 04, 2013
Cyprus is badly in need of aid, but skepticism in Berlin appears to be growing. Chancellor Merkel's opponent in this year's election, Peer Steinbrück, has set a number of conditions that must be met before his party will support a bailout. There is a growing number of rebels in Merkel's camp as well. more... [ Forum ]
SPIEGEL ONLINE
- January 28, 2013
Peer Steinbrück, the SPD candidate running against Chancellor Angela Merkel in a September general election, is still seen as a risk to the party's prospects despite a recent boost from Lower Saxony. Damaged by a string of gaffes, he will be kept on a tighter rein and only have a limited say in campaign strategy. By Konstantin von Hammerstein, Horand Knaup, Gordon Repinski, Michael Sauga and Merlind Theile more... [ Forum ]
SPIEGEL ONLINE
- January 22, 2013
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. By David Crossland more... [ Forum ]
SPIEGEL ONLINE
- January 21, 2013
Things couldn't be going worse for Angela Merkel's Christian Democrats. The slim center-left victory in Lower Saxony bodes poorly for the conservative coalition in federal elections this autumn. Now the fight for the Chancellery will get more brutal than the incumbent German leader had imagined. more...
SPIEGEL ONLINE
- January 21, 2013
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. By David Crossland more... [ Forum ]
