BERLIN | Xinhua | Germany’s conservative bloc, the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and the Christian Social Union (CSU), has taken the lead in the country’s 2025 federal election, preliminary results have showed. The election will determine the composition of the next Bundestag, or the lower house of the parliament. CDU/CSU secured …
Read More »Merkel’s conservatives brace for stormy party congress
Berlin, Germany | AFP | German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s centre-right CDU braces for a tumultuous two-day party congress in Leipzig from Friday, with members smarting from recent local election drubbings and bickering over her successor. Here’s a look at what’s ailing the Christian Democratic Union in the twilight of Merkel’s reign. …
Read More »Farewell Facebook: Germany’s Merkel closes account
Berlin, Germany | AFP | German Chancellor Angela Merkel announced Friday she would close her Facebook account, taking another step in a long farewell from politics in her final term in office. In a short video, Merkel thanked her more than 2.5 million followers on the social media site and asked …
Read More »End of an era: Merkel passes torch to new party leader
Hamburg, Germany | AFP | German Chancellor Angela Merkel will hand off leadership of her party Friday after nearly two decades at the helm, with the race wide open between a loyal deputy and a longtime rival. The contest’s outcome is expected to be crucial in deciding whether Merkel, Europe’s …
Read More »THIS WEEK: Germany’s Merkel gets fourth term with weakened mandate
THIS WEEK: Germany’s Merkel gets fourth term with weakened mandate Angela Merkel secured a fourth term as German Chancellor after the Sept 24 election but with a weakened mandate as far-right party Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) made in-roads into the German parliament for the first time. Merkel’s Christian Democratic Union …
Read More »Merkel wins 4th term, hard right gains foothold in parliament
Berlin, Germany | AFP | Chancellor Angela Merkel clinched a fourth term in Germany’s general election on Sunday, but her victory was clouded by the hard-right AfD party winning its first seats in parliament. Merkel, who after 12 years in power held a double-digit lead for most of the campaign, …
Read More »Merkel launches election bid with tough line on immigration
Essen, Germany | AFP | Chancellor Angela Merkel Tuesday lashed populists seeking to exploit Germany’s refugee influx, but set down a tough line on integration — including a ban on the full-face veil — as she launched into election campaign mode. Outlining a strategy to counter populism that has consumed …
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