German Politics - Themenarchiv Seite 2012074

Black, Red, Yellow, Green

Angela Merkel and the Christian Democrats have taken a beating with their handling of the euro crisis and public in-fighting with their coalition partner, the Free Democrats. How long will the coalition last? And can the Social Democrats or the Green Party force Merkel out of office?

The government of North Rhine-Westphalia has lost a key budget vote, a development that is expected to trigger an early election in Germany's most populous state. The vote could rock Chancellor Angela Merkel's center-right coalition by further weakening her junior coalition partner, the Free Democrats. more...

A voluntary program to get German companies to introduce gender quotas for women in management has failed to bear fruit, but divisions within the German government are also hindering progress. Now, female politicians from across the political spectrum are pushing for change, and Angela Merkel may even make it a campaign issue. By Ulrike Demmer, Peter Müller and Merlind Theilemore...

German Family Minister Kristina Schröder traveled on Wednesday to Tunisia, a country that until last year's revolution had some of the most progressive women's rights policies in the Arab world. But now women there are fighting against the imposition of Shariah law in their next constitution. By Anna Reimann in Tunismore...[ Comment ]

Debate has been fierce in Berlin following the release of new wage inequality data and an EU threat to enforce a binding gender quota on companies. Amid growing support for such measures, German commentators agree that the dismal situation must change, but doubt that a quota is the best solution. more...[ Comment ]

Following controversial strikes at Frankfurt Airport, a fundamental dispute over the much-cherished principle of collective bargaining in Germany has come to a head. Small unions are gaining a disproportionate amount of influence, but the coalition government in Berlin is at odds over how to limit their power. more...

A linguistics professor in Bamberg is considered the most powerful member of Germany's burgeoning Pirate Party, even though he holds no office. Martin Haase engages in politics almost exclusively through the Internet using the party's Liquid Feedback software. The platform is flattening the political hierarchy and is unique among German political parties. By Sven Beckermore...[ Comment ]

Chancellor Angela Merkel wanted to use the nomination of a new presidential candidate to prepare the ground for a new coalition after the next election in 2013. But her junior coalition partner, the FDP, scuppered her plan. Now, the unthinkable has become possible: A future coalition without Merkel's party. By Konstantin von Hammerstein, Christoph Hickmann, Peter Müller and Ralf Neukirchmore...

Chancellor Angela Merkel made clear on Monday that she disagrees with Interior Minister Hans-Peter Friedrich, who called for Greece to quit the euro zone. His comments in SPIEGEL exposed a rift in her coalition about how to manage the euro crisis ahead of Monday's vote on the new Greek bailout. more...

German voters value austerity. That, at least, is what Chancellor Angela Merkel is betting on as she embarks on a new package of savings measures aimed at balancing the budget in two years. She wants to show the rest of Europe how it's done -- and get re-elected in the process. By Sven Böll, Peter Müller and Christian Reiermannmore...

Last week, Germany lost a president. Over the weekend, the country almost lost its government as well. The choice to nominate Joachim Gauck as the country's next head of state exposed significant differences within Chancellor Merkel's governing coalition and left behind deep scars in Berlin. By Charles Hawleymore...

The decision to select Joachim Gauck as the official candidate to become German president on Sunday only happened after a major dispute between Philipp Rösler, the head of the Free Democratic Party, and Chancellor Angela Merkel. Rösler won the battle, but the fallout is expected to be major in the coalition government, German editorialists argue. more...