Page 7 - Germany

Germany's options: A tough leadership test awaits the new chancellor

Much of Mr Merz's leadership of Europe, however, depends on how fast he can revive Germany's economy

Who is Friedrich Merz, Germany's conservative leader and next chancellor?

Friedrich Merz's party and its ally, the Christian Social Union, won 28.5 per cent in Germany's general election, defeating Chancellor Olaf Scholz's Social Democrats

Oppn in Germany wins election, far right is 2nd with strongest result

German opposition leader Friedrich Merz's conservatives were on course for a lackluster victory in a national election Sunday, while Alternative for Germany nearly doubled its support, the strongest showing for a far-right party since World War II, projections showed. Chancellor Olaf Scholz conceded defeat for his centre-left Social Democrats after what he called "a bitter election result". Projections for ARD and ZDF public television showed his party finishing in third place with its worst postwar result in a national parliamentary election. Merz vowed to move quickly to put together a coalition government. But that's likely to be a complicated task. The election took place seven months earlier than originally planned after Scholz's unpopular coalition collapsed in November, three years into a term that was increasingly marred by infighting. There was widespread discontent and not much enthusiasm for any of the candidates. The campaign was dominated by worries about the years-lon

German elections: Oppn leader Merz's conservatives leading in exit polls

Exit polls in Germany's national election Sunday show opposition leader Friedrich Merz's conservatives leading, with Alternative for Germany heading for the strongest showing for a far-right party since World War II. The exit polls for ARD and ZDF public television show Chancellor Olaf Scholz's center-left Social Democrats on track for their worst postwar result in a national parliamentary election, and expected to be in third place. The polls, issued right after the last polling stations closed, put support for Merz's Union bloc at 28.5-29 per cent and Alternative for Germany, or AfD, at 19.5-20 per cent -- roughly double its result from 2021. They put support for Scholz's Social Democrats at 16-16.5 per cent, far lower than in the last election. The environmentalist Greens, their remaining partners in the outgoing government after Scholz's three-party coalition collapsed in November, were on13.5 per cent. Out of three smaller parties, one the hard-left Left Party appeared certa

Discontented Germany votes in election with economy, migration in focus

German voters are choosing a new government in an election on Sunday dominated by worries about the years-long stagnation of Europe's biggest economy, pressure to curb migration and growing uncertainty over the future of Ukraine and Europe's alliance with the United States. The centre-right opposition is favoured to win, while polls point to the strongest result for a far-right party since World War II. Germany is the most populous country in the 27-nation European Union and a leading member of NATO. It has been Ukraine's biggest second-weapons supplier, after the US. It will be central to shaping the continent's response to the challenges of the coming years, including the Trump administration's confrontational foreign and trade policy. What are Germans voting for? More than 59 million people in the nation of 84 million are eligible to elect the 630 members of the lower house of parliament, the Bundestag, who will take their seats under the glass dome of Berlin's landmark Reichst

Germany launches online visa portal for students, including Indians

The system has been developing for two years and is now active across all 167 German visa sections worldwide

Tesla to import cars from Germany, not China, as India plans take shape

The Berlin factory, which produces the Tesla Model Y, is now likely to manufacture right-hand drive vehicles for the Indian market

German elections: Who are the top candidates & what are their priorities

Originally scheduled for September 28, the German elections were advanced following the dramatic collapse of Chancellor Olaf Scholz's three-party coalition government in November

Here's why fixing Germany's economy a critical task for country's next govt

Germany needs a new business model. The old one, fuelled by cheap natural gas from Russia and lucrative exports to China, is broken, leaving Europe's biggest economy mired in stagnation and angst about the future. Delivering that fresh growth strategy is going to be the biggest challenge for the government that takes office after a national election set for Feb. 23, seven months ahead of schedule. The nation that became known for the quality of its products has not seen real economic growth for five years. Multiple factors conspired to take Germany from industrial powerhouse to post-pandemic straggler: too much bureaucracy, a shortage of skilled workers, slow deployment of technology and a lack of clear direction from the outgoing coalition government are among them. Rising competition from China and high energy prices due to Russia's war in Ukraine were additional hits. We really need a more company- and enterprise-friendly politics," Klaus Geissdoerfer, CEO of industrial fan ...

Europeans to respond to US at Munich conference as Trump admin upends norms

European leaders trying to make sense of a tough new line from Washington on issues including democracy and Ukraine's future were set to express their reactions on Saturday, as the Trump administration continues to upend trans-Atlantic conventions that have been in place since after World War II. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy were to speak on the second day of the Munich Security Conference, a day after US Vice President JD Vance all but scolded European allies over democracy and raised questions about the US commitment to help Ukraine's defence against Russian forces. US President Donald Trump held a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin this week in which he said the two leaders would likely meet soon to negotiate a peace deal. Trump later assured Zelenskyy that he, too, would have a seat at the table. The war was sparked by Russia's invasion of Ukraine three years ago. Already Friday, the Ukrainian leader said that his countr

Jaishankar calls India a 'democracy that delivers' at Munich Conference

EAM Jaishankar noted that India has stayed true to the democratic model despite the challenges it has faced

Several injured after car drives into crowd in Munich; driver arrested

A demonstration by the service workers' union was taking place at the time of the incident

India drove overall growth for Germany-based Hansgrohe in 2024

This comes after the company faced construction challenges in Europe and reported an overall decline in its turnover

Germany's Scholz calls Trump's Gaza proposal 'scandal' in poll debate

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz described President Donald Trump's suggestion that the US could take ownership of the Gaza Strip, relocate its population and redevelop it as a scandal in a pre-election debate Sunday. His main challenger also voiced unease but suggested there's a lot of rhetoric coming from Washington. The center-left Scholz and center-right challenger Friedrich Merz, the front-runner in the Feb. 23 election, discussed top domestic issues such as Germany's struggling economy and migration, and also addressed foreign policy three weeks into Trump's new term. Asked what he made of Trump's proposal to redevelop Gaza into the Riviera of the Middle East," Scholz replied: A scandal. Besides that, a really terrible expression," given the extent of the destruction that is now visible there. The relocation of populations is unacceptable and against international law, he added in the debate on ARD and ZDF public television. He pointed to the position of Egypt and Jordan. I shar

India is both a developed & developing country: Former German ambassador

Whether it's in Starbucks or buying cucumbers in countryside, people use QR codes. This level of digital integration is something West can learn from, says Walter J Lindner, former German ambassador

Germany's GDP falls 0.2% in Dec qtr, recession fears return ahead of poll

Germany's gross domestic product fell by 0.2% in the fourth quarter compared with the previous three-month period, preliminary data from the statistics office showed on Thursday

Germany cuts 2025 economic growth forecast to 0.3% after two-year slump

The German government on Wednesday slashed its 2025 growth forecast for the country's economy, Europe's biggest, to just 0.3% after it shrank for two consecutive years. The new projection is much lower than the government's previous forecast of 1.1% growth, issued in October. Germany has managed no meaningful economic growth in the past four years as it has struggled to deal with major shifts in the global economy and with structural challenges of its own. Preliminary figures released two weeks ago showed that gross domestic product contracted by 0.2% last year, following a 0.3% decline in 2023. The economy is one of the top issues in the campaign for an early German parliamentary election on Feb. 23. It is being held seven months before it was originally scheduled after Chancellor Olaf Scholz's three-party coalition collapsed in November in a dispute about how to revitalise the economy. Contenders to lead the next government have made contrasting proposals on how to get it growing

Elon Musk backs German far-right AfD party's campaign launch amid protests

The AfD, recently making history as the first far-right party to win a state election since the Nazi era, has gained momentum in national polls

Not sure if US should be spending anything on Nato, says Donald Trump

Washington finances 15.8 per cent of the 32-member military alliance's yearly expenditure of around $3.5 billion, joint-largest share, alongside Germany

Want to work in Germany? 2025 visa rules, salaries, and reforms explained

Germany's reforms present an opportunity for Indian professionals