Germany Set For Snap Gay Marriage Vote

German MPs are expected to vote to legalise same-sex marriage, days after Chancellor Angela Merkel dropped her opposition to the idea. The reform would give gay men and lesbians full marital rights, and allow them to adopt children. At present, German same-sex couples are limited to civil unions. On Monday Mrs Merkel, who previously opposed … Read more

Ex-Chancellor Helmut Kohl Has Passed On

Former German Chancellor Helmut Kohl died at his home in Germany’s Ludwigshafen on Friday at the age of 87, according to German local media Focus Online. Kohl served as German chancellor between 1982 and 1998 and is well known as the “chancellor of unity,” for his active political plan bringing west and east Germany together. … Read more

Angela Merkel’s CDU ‘seizes Key State From Rivals’

Angela Merkel’s Christian Democrats party (CDU) has unseated rivals Social Democrats (SPD) in a key election, exit polls say. The CDU is projected to win 34.5% of votes in North Rhine-Westphalia, the country’s most populous state, compared with 30.5% for the SPD. The SPD has run the state for most of the post-war period. The … Read more

Angela Merkel Faces Key Test In German State Election

Voters in Germany’s most populous state are going to the polls in an election seen as a crucial test for Chancellor Angela Merkel. Polls show Mrs Merkel’s centre-right Christian Democrats (CDU) could unseat the centre-left Social Democrats (SPD) in North Rhine-Westphalia. The SPD has run the state for most of the post-war period. A CDU … Read more

Russian Hackers ‘target’ Presidential Candidate Macron

Russian hackers are targeting the campaign of French presidential candidate Emmanuel Macron, say security experts. Phishing emails, malware and fake net domains were all being used as attack techniques, said Feike Hacquebord, from security company Trend Micro. The attackers are believed to be part of the same group that targeted the US election. Russia has … Read more

Merkel’s Christian Democrats Win In Saarland State Election

Preliminary official results show Chancellor Angela Merkel’s CDU ahead with a clear lead over the Social Democrats. The vote has been seen as a test of the mood in the country ahead of federal elections in the fall. Germany’s “super election year” kicked off on Sunday, with some 800,000 eligible voters casting ballots for the … Read more

Merkel On Course For German State Win

Exit polls suggest German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s centre-right party has won state elections in Saarland, ahead of September’s national vote. Her Christian Democrats (CDU) are on course to take 41%, comfortably seeing off a challenge by the Social Democrats (SPD), projected to secure 29.5% Mrs Merkel is hoping for a fourth term as chancellor but … Read more

Merkel To Seek Fourth Term As German Chancellor

Angela Merkel told top members of her party on Sunday that she wants to run for a fourth term as German chancellor in next year’s election, senior party sources told Reuters, after months of speculation about one of the world’s most powerful women. Despite a voter backlash over her open-door migrant policy, the conservative is … Read more

Angela Merkel, German Chancellor, To Stand For Fourth Term

German Chancellor Angela Merkel has said she will run for a fourth term in office, members of her conservative party have said. Mrs Merkel, 62, is expected to formally announce her intention later on Sunday at the headquarters of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU). General elections are expected in Germany in autumn next year. Mrs … Read more

Merkel’s CDU Suffers Heavy Berlin Losses

Germany’s CDU, the party of Chancellor Angela Merkel, has suffered historic losses in Berlin state elections. It has been ousted from the state governing coalition with the centre-left Social Democrats. Meanwhile the right-wing anti-migrant party Alternative for Germany (AfD) made gains and will enter the state parliament for the first time. Mrs Merkel’s popularity has … Read more

Merkel Refugee Policy Blamed For Defeat

German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s allies have urged her to change course on refugees after her governing CDU party was beaten in a regional election by an anti-immigrant party. The right-wing AfD party, formed only three years ago, came second in the chancellor’s home state of Mecklenburg-West Pomerania, polling 21%. Mrs Merkel has defended her policies … Read more