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Friedrich Merz

Germany’s conservative candidate and leader of the center-right Christian Democratic Union is the frontrunner to become chancellor. He has pulled conservatives markedly to the right since the reign of his predecessor, Angela Merkel, vowing to crack down on migration and restore business competitiveness. But Merz’s gambit to pass tougher migration measures even with the support of Alternative for Germany has embroiled conservatives in a fierce pre-election debate about the weakening of Germany’s “firewall” around the far right.
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EU countries sideline experts in dash to slash green rules

Diplomats warn that leaving experts out of policy discussions on simplifying green regulations will do more harm than good.

June 11, 2025 6:00 am CET

Merz und der Boys-Club im Kanzleramt

Der neue Kanzler will sein Kanzleramt neu aufstellen. Doch für Friedrich Merz eröffnen sich einige Probleme und Herausforderungen bei den Besetzungen auf verschiedenen Ebenen. Hans von der …

June 10, 2025 6:27 am CET

Germany’s conservatives eye return to compulsory military service

Germany ended the draft in 2011, but calls are growing for its return.

June 9, 2025 4:25 am CET
Germany Interpreted

Can Merz have an effective foreign policy?

While Merz’s approach has already paid dividends in terms of mood music in the German establishment, in concrete terms, it hasn’t.

June 9, 2025 4:00 am CET
Cartoon Carousel

World’s cartoonists on this week’s events

Drawing the top stories around the globe.

June 7, 2025 4:00 am CET

Costa hints EU could penalize Israel over Gaza offensive

Diplomats are weighing up plans to downgrade ties despite opposition from some capitals.

June 6, 2025 2:54 pm CET

Germany’s Merz confident after emerging unharmed from Trump ‘show’

Chancellor Merz was largely praised for his handling of the US president, but returned with few concrete outcomes.

June 6, 2025 2:29 pm CET

Merz has ‘no doubt’ US is committed to NATO after Trump meeting

Speaking after his debut trip to the Oval Office, the German chancellor said he’s confident Washington will stick with the security alliance despite years of tensions.

June 6, 2025 12:59 pm CET

Neue Bromance Merz und Trump

Rixa Fürsen analysiert zusammen mit der Washington-Korrespondentin der WELT, Stefanie Bolzen, das Aufeinandertreffen des Kanzlers mit dem US-Präsidenten im Weißen Haus. Deutlich konstruktiver, entspannter und freundschaftlicher war …

June 6, 2025 5:43 am CET

The Trump-Musk bromance devolves into a chaotic public breakup

The president and the world’s richest man, once close friends, sparred with increasingly explosive insults and threats.

June 6, 2025 1:40 am CET

Merz avoids a blowup in the Oval, but Trump goes his own way on Russia

Germany’s new leader disarmed the president with praise, but their daylight on the war was clear.

June 5, 2025 7:50 pm CET

Germany’s foreign minister condemns Israel’s approval of new West Bank settlements

Germany will continue delivering weapons to Israel despite unusually open criticism of the Israeli government.

June 5, 2025 4:46 pm CET
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Der US-Blick auf den Merz-Besuch in Washington

Der Kanzler ist in Washington und wird dort erstmals in seinem Amt auf Donald Trump treffen. Flüchtig kennen sich die beiden bereits. Was erwartet man in den …

June 5, 2025 5:36 am CET

Germany’s Merz ventures into Trump’s lion’s den

Oval Office encounters are always fraught with danger, but these two rich, anti-immigration golfers might just hit it off.

June 5, 2025 4:01 am CET

Was Merz bei Trump rausholen kann

Am heutigen Abend bricht Friedrich Merz in die USA auf. Es ist sein Antrittsbesuch im Weißen Haus. Gordon Repinski analysiert, wie der Kanzler die drei wichtigsten Themen …

June 4, 2025 5:40 am CET

EU proposes junking strict self-driving car rules in Trump trade talk gambit

The concession is the latest offering from the bloc and marks a dramatic policy shift to end the trade war kicked off by U.S. President Donald Trump.

June 3, 2025 7:24 pm CET

Das Update zum Israel-Streit in der Union

Offener Dissens zwischen dem CSU-Landesgruppenchef Alexander Hoffmann und dem CDU-Außenpolitiker Johannes Wadephul. Wadephul bekommt deutlichen Widerspruch dafür, dass er deutsche Waffenexporte nach Israel überprüfen lassen will. Rasmus …

June 3, 2025 5:44 pm CET

Die Diätenerhöhung im Bundestag und die Frage nach Gerechtigkeit

Nach der größten Erhöhung der Abgeordnetendiäten im vergangenen Jahr soll es an diesem Donnerstag im Bundestag erneut um eine Anhebung der Vergütung für Parlamentarier gehen. Rasmus Buchsteiner …

June 3, 2025 5:30 am CET

German court rejects key pillar of Merz’s asylum crackdown

Under pressure from the far right, Germany’s conservative chancellor had vowed to turn away asylum-seekers at the country’s borders.

June 2, 2025 7:36 pm CET

Merz to meet Trump in Washington next week

The two leaders are expected to discuss the war in Ukraine, the Middle East and trade policy at meeting on Thursday.

May 31, 2025 5:53 pm CET

Germany to review Israel weapons exports, foreign minister says

Johann Wadephul signals a potential policy shift as Berlin reassesses arms shipments to Israel over humanitarian concerns in Gaza.

May 30, 2025 7:57 pm CET

Wie weiter in der Ukraine? Ein Gespräch mit Paul Ronzheimer

In dieser Folge trifft Gordon Repinski auf Paul Ronzheimer, stellvertretender Chefredakteur von BILD und einer der erfahrensten deutschen Kriegsreporter. Ronzheimer berichtet regelmäßig aus der Ukraine, auch in …

May 30, 2025 5:30 am CET

Between a smack and a hard place — Poland votes, Orbán provokes, and Brussels shows its teeth

Slaps were exchanged — some literal, some political — and suddenly Brussels isn’t just watching from the sidelines. This week on EU Confidential, we dive into a …

May 30, 2025 4:00 am CET

Berlin drafts bill to tax digital platforms

“We consider a tax rate of 10 percent to be moderate and legitimate,” Germany’s culture minister said.

May 29, 2025 11:07 am CET
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