Politics

German election 2021: Who comes after Merkel?

Germans vote for a new parliament on Sunday (26 September) in an election already dubbed 'historic' because it will determine the successor of Chancellor Angela Merkel, who will retire after 16 years at the helm of the EU's strongest economy.

Germans to decide on a future without Angela Merkel

All eyes are on Berlin this week as Germans vote on a new government on Sunday (26 September). The final result is difficult to predict but the new government will be one without Chancellor Angela Merkel, who has been in power for 16 years and will step down from politics altogether.

Civil society calls for transparency in Commission’s rule of law report

62 organisations have complained about a lack of transparency, tight deadlines, and limited scope of the European Commission's annual report assessing the rule of law situation in the EU Member States.

Czech far right sets ‘Czexit’ referendum law as price for post-vote talks

The far-right SPD party, which may play a role in forming a new Czech government next month, would demand the cabinet propose legislation that could lead to a referendum on leaving the European Union, party chief Tomio Okamura said.

German Chancellor Merkel to stick around for a while after polls

As Angela Merkel said goodbye to her Stralsund constituency of 30 years on 21 September and visited Paris one last time as chancellor on 16 September, one might get the wrong impression that she is not long for the international stage.

The Brief, powered by EHFG — The rise of the kingmakers

With the new German parliament likely to be more fragmented after the federal election on Sunday (September 26), several small parties are preparing themselves to play a kingmaker role in the subsequent coalition-building talks.

Post-election Germany: back to austerity or fit for a fiscal union?

Germany is heading to the polls on Sunday (26 September) amid intense debate on the future of Europe's fiscal policy.

Shakeup in Berlin – German 2021 elections

The upcoming German federal elections are already dubbed 'historic': Veteran Chancellor Angela Merkel will step down after 16 years in office while her conservative CDU/CSU union is polling at historic lows and trailing the Social Democrats, who are in pole position ahead of the 26 September vote.

Germany’s youth disgruntled with election system dominated by seniors

Germany heads to the polls on Sunday (26 September) with a majority of voters aged above 50, while many teenagers under the legal voting age of 18 feel disgruntled for not being allowed to vote in an election they consider pivotal.

Romanian MEP demands EU investigation into UK profiling claims

A Romanian MEP has called on the European Commission to intervene following the release of data suggesting that UK border officials could be conducting racial profiling against Romanian and other east Europeans states.

How post-election Germany can become a climate delivery champion

National elections in Germany are only days away. The eyes of the world are turning to Berlin as Angela Merkel is stepping down after 16 years and polls are predicting a tight race. In this opinion piece, Cora Herwartz and Jule Könneke outline how post-election Germany can reclaim its climate frontrunner role.

Slovenian Minister urges Frontex to help EU member states, third countries

The situation on the EU's border with Belarus was high on the agenda as the management board of the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex) started a two-day meeting in Slovenia on Tuesday (21 September).

The Brief, powered by EHFG — Replacing tents with concrete

The EU’s repackaged migration pact could be finalised in the weeks after next year’s French presidential elections. At least that’s what Commission Vice-President Margaritis Schinas told this website.

Hungarian minister: Schinas wants to ‘hide’ migration from German, French voters

Hungarian Justice Minister Judit Varga has lashed out against European Commission Vice-President Margaritis Schinas after he told EURACTIV in an interview that the much-awaited European migration pact should be approved after the French elections due next year.

German parties and migration: Different priorities and concerns

While all the parties running in next Sunday's German election agree that the current European migration regime has to be reformed, their vision of what these changes should look like vary considerably.

Hungary’s Orban launches election campaign with €1.7 billion tax refund for families

Hungary's government will refund $2 billion of income tax to families in early 2022 and also plans a big hike in the minimum wage, right-wing Prime Minister Viktor Orbán said on Monday, setting the stage for next year's election.

Scholz labelled ‘finance minister of scandals’ by MPs ahead of German elections

Finance minister and chancellor hopeful Olaf Scholz was questioned by Bundestag MPs on Monday (20. September) about investigations against his ministry’s anti-money laundering unit. His party, the SPD, deemed the hearing pure campaign tactics.

The Brief, powered by EHFG — Macron has wind in his sails

The EU has had a glorious period of big projects — the single market, enlargement, the euro. Reform in this period, including treaty change, was driven by the sheer scope of these huge projects.

Legal battle over German election polling enters round two

With just days until polling day for the German federal elections, one of the biggest opinion polling firms, forsa, is locked in a legal battle with the German federal election authority. 

New centrist faction seeks to form ‘Coalition of the honest’ in Bulgaria

Popular former interim economy and finance ministers have set up a centrist political faction to compete in Bulgaria's third parliamentary election this year on pledges to tackle widespread corruption and foster a fairer distribution of wealth.

From Chirac to Macron: The four Franco-German duos of the Merkel era

Following Chancellor Angela Merkel's recent visit to France for her last working dinner with President Emmanuel Macron in Paris, EURACTIV France takes a look at the past four "leadership couples" at the heart of Franco-German relations.

Volcano erupts on Spanish island of La Palma, PM suspends US trip

A volcano erupted Sunday (19 September) on the island of La Palma, in Spain’s Canary Island archipelago, following a week of seismic activity in the area. EURACTIV’s partner EFE reports.

MEP Freund: Von der Leyen, EPP still shielding Bulgaria’s ex-PM Borissov

In an exclusive interview, MEP Daniel Freund tells about his recent visit to Bulgaria, revealing the frustrations of the caretaker government which did not receive support from the EU Commission in its efforts to tackle money-laundering.