Keywords: Friedrich Merz


Deep divisions threaten approval of the EU’s 2028–2034 budget

Negotiations over the European Union’s next long-term budget are facing significant obstacles, with disagreements over spending levels, funding sources and financial priorities raising doubts about whether the proposed plan can secure approval. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and European Parliament......

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz Backs More Flexible Working Hours

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has argued that moving away from the traditional eight-hour workday could create new opportunities for both businesses and employees, as his government considers reforms aimed at making working hours more flexible. Speaking on Tuesday at the German Employers’ Day......

Andy Burnham says Russia meddled in the 2016 Brexit vote, reopening a politically charged debate

Prime Minister Andy Burnham has put Russian interference in the 2016 Brexit referendum back on the political agenda, saying on Monday that Moscow’s involvement was beyond doubt. His comments came on the same day he was due to make the case in Parliament for a more pragmatic relationship with the......

Why European calls for a diplomatic settlement in Ukraine are growing

European leaders are increasingly placing diplomacy and the prospect of a negotiated settlement at the center of their public messaging on the war in Ukraine, as the conflict enters another prolonged phase and governments face growing domestic pressure over its economic and political costs. The Wall......

Germany’s political tensions raise concerns over EU decision-making

Political uncertainty surrounding German Chancellor Friedrich Merz is prompting concern among some European governments about the potential impact on decision-making within the European Union, particularly as member states negotiate the bloc’s next long-term budget. According to Politico, cited......

Merz warns SPD against coalition with Die Linke in Berlin

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has warned the Social Democratic Party (SPD) against joining a coalition government with Die Linke in Berlin, escalating tensions within Germany’s governing landscape after the Left Party’s strong performance in the capital’s state election. According......

Germany’s regional elections deepen coalition dilemma as AfD and Left gain ground

Germany’s regional elections in Berlin and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania have exposed a growing fragmentation of the country’s political landscape, with the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) making major gains in the northeast while the Left Party emerged as the strongest force in Berlin.......

Germany regional elections: AfD leads in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania as CDU suffers major setback

Germany’s regional elections in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and Berlin have produced sharply different outcomes, with the AfD emerging as the strongest party in the northeastern state and Die Linke taking first place in the capital. The results also delivered major setbacks for Chancellor Friedrich......

Germany’s regional elections put pressure on Friedrich Merz as AfD gains ground

Germany is holding regional elections in Berlin and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania on Sunday, putting Chancellor Friedrich Merz and his conservative CDU under renewed political scrutiny. The votes come only weeks after the AfD made a major breakthrough in Saxony-Anhalt, adding to the attention surrounding......