About: Joachim Gauck

CDU and CSU back Steinmeier for president

Chancellor Angela Merkel's Christian Democrats (CDU) have agreed to back Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier, a Social Democrat, as the ruling coalition's candidate to replace Joachim Gauck as president next year, a conservative source said.

Kyiv keen to demonstrate European values at Babi Yar commemoration

Donald Tusk spoke at the 75th anniversary commemorations of the Babi Yar massacre in Ukraine last week (29 September). Kyiv's intentions at the ceremony were clear: to strengthen ties with the West and draw parallels between today’s Russia and Nazi Germany. EURACTIV France reports.

Bulgarian president: If the EU collapses, there will be war

Bulgarian President Rossen Plevneliev said yesterday (23 June) that if the EU collapsed following Brexit, there would be war. He made the comments in the presence of his German colleague, Joachim Gauck, who is on a 3-day visit to Bulgaria.

In headache for Merkel, Gauck says he won’t serve a second term

German President Joachim Gauck said yesterday (6 June) he would not serve a second five-year term, a decision that could trigger a battle between the parties in Chancellor Angela Merkel's ruling coalition over who should succeed him.

Turkey warns Germany ahead of Armenian genocide vote

Germany's parliament votes Thursday (2 June) on a resolution that qualifies the massacre of Armenians by Ottoman forces as "genocide", despite a strong warning from Turkey.

German president warns of limits to number of refugees

Joachim Gauck has warned that there are limits to how many refugees his country can absorb as it prepares for as many as 800,000 arrivals this year.

Merkel booed at site of refugee attacks

Amid an influx of refugees, Chancellor Angela Merkel announced plans providing more support for asylum seekers. But, during a visit to a refugee centre on Wednesday (26 August) she was labeled a “traitor” by protesters. EURACTIV Germany reports.

The Armenian Genocide: German government in distress

Next week, German President Joachim Gauck could call the genocide in Armenia by name. This would be disgraceful for the German government, which instead wants to avoid the word "genocide". But criticism is constantly growing louder – even among its own ranks.

German president attacks EU refugee policy

German President Joachim Gauck is calling for greater generosity toward those seeking refuge in Europe and faster processing times for asylum applications. EURACTIV Germany reports.

Germany’s new President pledges ‘loyalty’ to Merkel

Joachim Gauck, a straight-talking politician, was elected president of Europe's most powerful country on Sunday (18 March), creating a potential political headache for Chancellor Angela Merkel. Both leaders made appeasing statements, promising each other "good collaboration" and "loyalty".