German Chancellor Friedrich Merz's CDU suffered its worst-ever result in any state, just 4.9% in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, while AfD surged to nearly 38% there. In Berlin, the left-wing Die Linke pulled off a surprise win over both CDU and AfD, with SPD posting its weakest result in over a century. Merz called the outcome a "disaster" but vowed to press ahead with painful economic reforms, insisting Germany's problems make bold change more urgent, not less.


CDU suffers historic defeat in eastern Germany as AfD surges, Merz vows to stay on

Germany is witnessing its first major cabinet reshuffle under Chancellor Friedrich Merz after a political controversy forced a senior minister to resign. The shake-up follows the resignation of senior CDU leader Jens Spahn, triggering significant changes within Germany's federal government. Chancellor Merz has appointed new ministers and indicated that additional cabinet changes could follow in the coming days. The political overhaul comes as Germany faces economic challenges, declining public approval, and growing political pressure from the Alternative for Germany (AfD).

Germany in political turmoil | Friedrich Merz reshuffles Cabinet after minister's resignation

In a jolt to Germany’s far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, the country’s domestic intelligence agency has designated it as an ‘extremist organisation’.
AfD had garnered 20.8% of the vote in Germany’s federal election in February, the highest vote share in the party’s history, and was the second best performer.

Germany’s Far-right Party AfD Labelled As ‘Extremist Organisation’ By Spy Agency BfV

Coalition talks are currently underway to form the next government, with the two major parties CDU and SPD engaged in negotiations. Watch this report for more details!

Germany: CDU-SPD mulling coalition after close results to form new government

Germany: CDU-SPD mulling over coalition

Germany: CDU-SPD coalition mulling over coalition

Germany could stop gas flowing through the almost-complete Nord Stream 2 pipeline from Russia if Moscow breaks the terms of the arrangement or uses it to put pressure on Ukraine, conservative chancellor candidate Armin Laschet said on Saturday. 
 
The pipeline is a source of tension with the US&nbsp;administration, which argues that it gives too much leverage to Russian President Vladimir Putin by increasing Europe's energy dependence on Russia. 
 
Gazprom and its Western partners have completed 95% of the pipeline to send natural gas under the Baltic Sea, bypassing Ukraine and depriving it of lucrative transit fees. 
 
Armin Laschet, who is favourite to succeed his CDU party colleague Angela Merkel when she steps down as chancellor after September's election, said in a televised foreign policy debate that the 95%-complete pipeline should be finished. 
 
But if Russia failed to stick to the rules, or used the pipeline against Ukraine, he said, "We can always discontinue this project, even after the pipeline is finished". 
 
Finance Minister Olaf Scholz, chancellor candidate for the centre-left SPD, took the same line, saying: "Anything that impinges on gas transit and Ukraine's security has consequences for potential transit through the completed pipeline." 
 
But Annalena Baerbock, the candidate for the environmentalist Greens, who are running second in opinion polls and could replace the SPD as the conservatives' junior coalition partner, repeated her opposition to the pipeline. 
 
"Imagine a winter in Europe," she said. "We won't be able to say 'Now we don't have any more gas'. Mr Putin wants to destabilise not only Ukraine but us as Europeans." 
 
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy made a recorded appeal to the candidates to guarantee his country's security and provide it with a path to membership of the European Union. 
 
Both Laschet and Scholz said Ukraine was not the next priority for EU enlargement.

(With inputs from agencies)

Germany could stop gas flowing through the almost-complete Nord Stream 2 pipeline from Russia if Moscow breaks the terms of the arrangement or uses it to put pressure on Ukraine, conservative chancellor candidate Armin Laschet said on Saturday.

Germany could stop gas flowing through the almost-complete Nord Stream 2 pipeline from Russia if Moscow breaks the terms of the arrangement or uses it to put pressure on Ukraine, conservative chancellor candidate Armin Laschet said on Saturday. The pipeline is a source of tension with the US administration, which argues that it gives too much leverage to Russian President Vladimir Putin by increasing Europe's energy dependence on Russia. Gazprom and its Western partners have completed 95% of the pipeline to send natural gas under the Baltic Sea, bypassing Ukraine and depriving it of lucrative transit fees. Armin Laschet, who is favourite to succeed his CDU party colleague Angela Merkel when she steps down as chancellor after September's election, said in a televised foreign policy debate that the 95%-complete pipeline should be finished. But if Russia failed to stick to the rules, or used the pipeline against Ukraine, he said, "We can always discontinue this project, even after the pipeline is finished". Finance Minister Olaf Scholz, chancellor candidate for the centre-left SPD, took the same line, saying: "Anything that impinges on gas transit and Ukraine's security has consequences for potential transit through the completed pipeline." But Annalena Baerbock, the candidate for the environmentalist Greens, who are running second in opinion polls and could replace the SPD as the conservatives' junior coalition partner, repeated her opposition to the pipeline. "Imagine a winter in Europe," she said. "We won't be able to say 'Now we don't have any more gas'. Mr Putin wants to destabilise not only Ukraine but us as Europeans." Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy made a recorded appeal to the candidates to guarantee his country's security and provide it with a path to membership of the European Union. Both Laschet and Scholz said Ukraine was not the next priority for EU enlargement. (With inputs from agencies)

Nord Stream pipeline could be halted if Russia abuses it: German CDU chancellor candidate

German Chancellor Angela Merkel's CDU scored a convincing win in the final regional vote before the first general election without her at the helm of the party. The CDU won around 37%of the vote, well ahead of the second-place far-right party AfD on 21%.

Merkel's party wins last state poll before general election

Angela Merkel to step down as CDU party leader

Chancellor Angela Merkel said Monday that she was ready to lead her party into snap elections rather than risk leading an unstable minority government, after the collapse of coalition talks plunged Germany into a political crisis.

&quot;I&#39;m very sceptical&quot; about a minority government, Merkel told public broadcaster ARD, adding that &quot;new elections would be the better path&quot;.

In a separate interview with public broadcaster ZDF, Merkel emphasised that Germany needed a stable government &quot;that does not need to seek a majority for every decision&quot;.

The veteran leader also confirmed that she was ready to lead her Christian Democratic Union (CDU) into new elections and said she had not considered stepping down after 12 years in office.&nbsp;

Merkel has been forced to fight for her political future after high-stakes talks to form a coalition government failed overnight, potentially forcing Europe&#39;s biggest economy to hold new elections.

But a new vote could deliver results that are just as inconclusive as September&#39;s, which had prompted Merkel and her conservative CDU-CSU alliance to seek a partnership with the pro-business FDP and the ecologist Greens.

Merkel has been forced to fight for her political future after high-stakes talks to form a coalition government failed overnight, potentially forcing Europe's biggest economy to hold new elections

Chancellor Angela Merkel said Monday that she was ready to lead her party into snap elections rather than risk leading an unstable minority government, after the collapse of coalition talks plunged Germany into a political crisis. "I'm very sceptical" about a minority government, Merkel told public broadcaster ARD, adding that "new elections would be the better path". In a separate interview with public broadcaster ZDF, Merkel emphasised that Germany needed a stable government "that does not need to seek a majority for every decision". The veteran leader also confirmed that she was ready to lead her Christian Democratic Union (CDU) into new elections and said she had not considered stepping down after 12 years in office. Merkel has been forced to fight for her political future after high-stakes talks to form a coalition government failed overnight, potentially forcing Europe's biggest economy to hold new elections. But a new vote could deliver results that are just as inconclusive as September's, which had prompted Merkel and her conservative CDU-CSU alliance to seek a partnership with the pro-business FDP and the ecologist Greens.

Merkel says new elections 'would be better path' than minority government

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/lesser-known-facts-about-angela-merkel-set-to-return-as-germanys-chancellor-20574">Chancellor Angela Merkel failed to reach a</a> compromise on Sunday night on forming a coalition government with the Free Democrats (FDP) and the Greens over hot-button issues in Germany.

Merkel&#39;s <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/germany-prominent-afd-leader-quits-party-hours-after-election-success-20651">conservative party has been trying</a> to reach a comprise with the FDP and Greens over immigration, climate change, European Union and taxes but hasn&#39;t reached a deal on any issue. The deadline for talks on Sunday night passed with no announcement being made.

FDP leader Christian Lindner refused to rejoin talks putting Merkel&#39;s fourth term in office in peril.

&quot;Today there was no progress but rather there were setbacks because targeted compromises were questioned, it is better not to rule than to rule falsely. Goodbye!,&quot; Lindner said.

Merkel would be forced to lead a minority government or call for fresh elections if the coalition fails to come together strengthing the far-right AfD (Alternative for Germany) which has consistently said it was against immigration in the country.

Julia Kloeckner, deputy chair of Merkel&#39;s Christian Democrats said,&quot;Everyone has to take a success back home. People must ask themselves if they are prepared for this to fail over details.&quot;

However, the Greens are unmoved with future of talks in danger of collapsing completely.&nbsp;

&nbsp;Greens chairwoman Nicola Beer said: &quot;The FDP is now waiting for the Greens and the conservatives to see how far they are prepared to go and if we can then look each other in the eye.&quot;

Merkel&#39;s Christian Democrats (CDU) and Bavaria&#39;s Christian Social Union now face an uncertain future with numbers in the German Parliament the Bundestag against them, the Greens and FDP are however unmoved.

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Merkel's conservative party has been trying to reach a comprise with the FDP and Greens over immigration, climate change, European Union and taxes

Chancellor Angela Merkel failed to reach a compromise on Sunday night on forming a coalition government with the Free Democrats (FDP) and the Greens over hot-button issues in Germany. Merkel's conservative party has been trying to reach a comprise with the FDP and Greens over immigration, climate change, European Union and taxes but hasn't reached a deal on any issue. The deadline for talks on Sunday night passed with no announcement being made. FDP leader Christian Lindner refused to rejoin talks putting Merkel's fourth term in office in peril. "Today there was no progress but rather there were setbacks because targeted compromises were questioned, it is better not to rule than to rule falsely. Goodbye!," Lindner said. Merkel would be forced to lead a minority government or call for fresh elections if the coalition fails to come together strengthing the far-right AfD (Alternative for Germany) which has consistently said it was against immigration in the country. Julia Kloeckner, deputy chair of Merkel's Christian Democrats said,"Everyone has to take a success back home. People must ask themselves if they are prepared for this to fail over details." However, the Greens are unmoved with future of talks in danger of collapsing completely. Greens chairwoman Nicola Beer said: "The FDP is now waiting for the Greens and the conservatives to see how far they are prepared to go and if we can then look each other in the eye." Merkel's Christian Democrats (CDU) and Bavaria's Christian Social Union now face an uncertain future with numbers in the German Parliament the Bundestag against them, the Greens and FDP are however unmoved.

Merkel's fourth term in doubt as talks on forming coalition government fail

The defeat could weaken the German Chancellor's chances of a fourth term in next year's federal elections

German Chancellor Angela Merkel's Christian Democrats stood third, after being defeated by the anti-immigrant and anti-Islam Alternative for Germany (AfD) party in a north-eastern state election on Sunday, according to TV exit polls. Merkel's Christian Democratic Union garnered just 19 percent percent in its worst ever score in the north-eastern state. The defeat has come for Merkel in her home district and could weaken her chances of a fourth term in next year’s federal elections. The AfD took 21.9 per cent of the vote behind the centre-left Social Democrats (SPD) in their first election in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern by campaigning hard against the chancellor's policies on refugees, according to a projection by ARD TV at 1815 GMT. "This isn't pretty for us," said Michael Grosse-Broemer, one of Merkel's top deputies in parliament in Berlin in a ZDF TV interview. "Those who voted for the AfD were sending a message of protest." The SPD has dominated the rural state on the Baltic coast with the CDU as junior coalition partners since 2006. It won 30.2 per cent of the vote, down from 35.6 per cent in the last election in 2011. Merkel's approval rating has gone down to a five-year low of 45 per cent, down from 67 per cent a year ago, due to increasing dissent with her open-door policies on refugees. Her decision has left her isolated in Europe, and exposed her to heavy criticism at home, including from her own conservative allies. Support for Merkel has also weakened after a string of violent attacks on civilians in July, three of which were carried out by asylum seekers. Of those, two were claimed by Islamic State. According to a report in Der Spiegel magazine, Merkel wanted to announce her intention of running for a fourth term this year but has put that on hold due to resistance from her Bavarian sister party, the Christian Social Union. "This was a dark day for Merkel," Thomas Jaeger, a political scientist at Cologne University, told Reuters. "Everyone knows that she lost this election. Her district in parliament is there, she campaigned there, and refugees are her issue." "This is a slap in the face for Merkel -- not only in Berlin but also in her home state," said Frauke Petry, co-leader of the AfD. "The voters made a clear statement against Merkel's disastrous immigration policies. This put her in her place." The leader of France's far-right National Front party, Marine Le Pen, posted on Twitter: "What was impossible yesterday has become possible: the patriots of AfD sweep up the party of Ms Merkel. All my congratulations!” The SPD (26 seats) and the CDU (16) won enough seats to be able to continue their coalition in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, with the AfD as the second-largest bloc in the 71-seat state assembly with 18 seats. The SPD, which could also form a coalition with the Left Party, said it was leaving its options open. The AfD is also gaining nationwide, a new poll showed on Sunday. (WION with inputs from agencies)

Merkel loses to anti-immigrant party in her home district: Exit polls

Cdu, News on Cdu, stories on Cdu, articles on Cdu, Cdu stories at Wion, Cdu news, Cdu latest news

cdu