Tag: german elections

Angela Merkel's Christian Democrats lost power yesterday (27 March) in the rich state of Baden-Württemberg, where anti-nuclear sentiment had been mobilised by radiation leaks from an earthquake-stricken nuclear plant in Japan. The vote is not expected to cost her the job, but would certainly limit her ability to pass legislation.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel's government called for unity yesterday (1 July) after rebels forced a humiliating vote over the presidency that could lead to a watering down of her austerity package. EurActiv Germany contributed to this article.

The German elections "have shifted the country towards the right," but despite the outcome, “the German electorate did not vote for radical change" and instead opted "for clarity and for an end of the unpopular grand coalition government," writes Timo Behr, a researcher at the Finnish Institute for International Affairs in an October paper. "As a result, tomorrow's Germany is unlikely to differ radically from that of today," he opines.  

Social Democrat Frank-Walter Steinmeier attacked Chancellor Angela Merkel on tax and nuclear policy in a TV debate yesterday (13 September), in a forceful performance that could hurt her chances of forming a centre-right government.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel's party suffered losses in German regional elections on Sunday (30 August), a setback that could hurt her chances of forming the centre-right government she wants after next month's federal vote.

Incumbent Chancellor Angela Merkel is in pole position to win next month’s German election, having seen her Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and its sister party the Christian Social Union (CSU) top polls for the third consecutive week, while the popularity of her main Social Democrat rivals has plummeted to one of its lowest pre-election levels since the Second World War.

Another 'grand coalition' between left and right following the 2009 elections in Germany would radicalise the political system, argues Eurointelligence director and associate editor of the Financial Times Wolfgang Münchau on the Eurointelligence website.

In an exclusive interview with EurActiv, Secretary General of the European Movement Germany Bernd Hüttemann discusses the European dimension of the German elections and possible coalitions.