Germany to borrow more than €800bn by 2030 for infrastructure and defence
Ministers argue the spending surge is needed to revive the economy after years of weak growth, modernise ageing infrastructure and rapidly strengthen armed forces.
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Friedrich Merz
Popular articles tagged "Friedrich Merz"
The Right is winning on order, not ideology
Germany is facing increasing chaos, with trains frequently late and basic infrastructure failing, leading voters to seek nationalism not for ideology, but for a…
Europe’s biggest military powers pledge stronger NATO role ahead of Ankara summit
Friedrich Merz hosted Emmanuel Macron, Keir Starmer, Giorgia Meloni and Donald Tusk for a meeting of the so-called E5 group.
German socialists push for extra holiday time as economy struggles
The suggestion forms part of ongoing coalition talks with the CDU/CSU on a broader reform package and may cause friction within the government.
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Germany considers raising retirement age as economic slump continues
The Rentenkommission is expected to suggest gradually raising the retirement age to 68.
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Part III: Germany embraces ‘the dumbest energy policy’ the world has yet seen
Germany's Green Transformation aims for climate neutrality but critics argue it may be the world's 'dumbest energy policy,' leading to soaring energy costs and declining…
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Costa defends Russia outreach as EU leaders question his mandate
The European Council president acted without consulting most national capitals, exposing a deep rift over how to deal with Moscow.
Merz’s top adviser says not the AfD, but far-left scares investors away
He noted that discussions with international investors barely mention possible AfD successes in upcoming state elections in eastern Germany.
Germany suffers humiliating defeat in bid for UN Security Council seat
This marks the first time in its history that Germany has failed in a bid for a non-permanent seat on the Council.
European Commission seeks Berlin’s backing for tougher China trade line
The push has come as Germany's long-standing reluctance to confront China has appeared to soften.
Merz proposes EU ‘associate member’ status for Ukraine
Kyiv would also have a representative at the EC, the bloc's executive arm, and non-voting members in the European Parliament.
Emperors lost in their Labyrinths, unwilling to listen to the common people
If one factor links the dire unpopularity of Chancellor Merz and President Macron, it is their political insularity.
Merz marks a bitter first year as German Chancellor amid record-low approval, coalition strife and a transatlantic rupture with Trump
A year on from the day he became the first German leader to need a second Bundestag vote to take office, Merz has presided over a stagnant economy, a coalition at…
German Chancellor Merz chains himself to SDU, vowing no minority government with AfD backing
German federal chancellor Friedrich Merz (Christian Democratic Union, CDU) has publicly dashed hopes of many CDU conservatives for a premature end of his current…
Weak, sinking Merz has no intention of following through on any of his promises
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz is a man who knows what to say to grab headlines.
‘No wonder Germany is doing so poorly’: Trump slams Merz after ‘pro-Iranian’ remarks
US President Donald Trump has harshly criticised Germany’s Chancellor after the latter apparently lauded the negotiation tactics of the Islamist regime of Iran.
Germany slashes welfare state to fund rearmament
Merz has stated that the state pension will be reformed into what he described as “basic cover” for old age and will no longer be sufficient to maintain living…
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Merz now least popular politician in Germany
Merz has become the least popular politician in Germany with a mere 28.
Climate protection should not harm economy, says Merz
‘Will not suffice to maintain standard of living’: Germany’s Merz urges pension reform
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz (Christian Democratic Union, CDU) has spoken out in favour of far-reaching reforms of the country’s creaking public pension system.
Harsh criticism of coalition partner creates rift in Germany’s ruling CDU party
A rift has opened up in Germany’s ruling Christian Democrat Union party (CDU) in recent days, following harsh words of criticism by economics minister Katherina…
Former German finance minister claims nuclear phase-out ‘has not harmed the country’
Peter Altmaier, a former German finance minister, former economy minister and a chief architect of Angela Merkel’s energy policy, claimed Germany’s decision…
Not happening: Merz reverses talk of 80 per cent of Syrians returning home
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has been forced to row back on an ambitious pledge that 80 per cent of Syrians currently living in Germany could return home within…
Merz says 80 per cent of Syrians should return home in the next three years
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has said the vast majority of Syrians who sought asylum in Germany during their country's civil war should now return home.
Merz says Germany’s nuclear phaseout ‘irreversible’ but experts disagree
Germany’s Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz (Christian Democratic Union, CDU) has called his country’s nuclear phaseout “irreversible”, contradicting both…
Merz goes behind Trump’s back to mimic and mock him
Was German Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s great show of respect for President Trump in the White House on Tuesday precisely that: Just a show?
German Government agrees on repealing controversial ‘green heating’ law
The German Government parties have announced an agreement to scrap a controversial legal obligation to phase out oil and gas heating systems.
German police launch investigation against pensioner for calling Chancellor Merz ‘Pinocchio’ online
The police in Heilbronn in Southwestern Germany have launched an investigation against a pensioner who referred to German Chancellor Friedrich Merz as “Pinocchio”…
‘Merz is the new Merkel’: German Chancellor sets course leftwards at party convention
The big party convention of Germany’s Christian Democratic Party (CDU) has ended well for Chancellor Friedrich Merz, but may bode ill for the country as a whole.
Polite as it was, ‘Shape up or we’ll ship out’ was Rubio’s message to Europe
United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz each gave memorable speeches at this year’s Munich Security Conference, laying…