Germany
In the pipeline: would Germany side with Russia in a conflict?
Germany’s curious alliance with Russia
France has the most to lose from Britain's turn away from Europe
It was Napoleon who declared that ‘a state has the politics of its geography’. We do well to remember that…
Covid could paralyse the new German coalition
An iron curtain has descended on Europe, and once again, it goes right through the middle of Germany. The average…
The fifth Covid wave could break Macron
The fifth Covid wave has started in Europe. Some governments are already imposing lockdowns and wage cuts for the unvaccinated…
Germany's 'day of fate' is a reminder of the country's troubled past
The 9 November is often called Germany’s Schicksalstag – Day of Fate. The date punctuates the fabric of the country’s calamitous…
Why did neo-Nazis patrol the German border?
Just after midnight last Sunday, around 50 vigilantes gathered in east Germany to ‘patrol’ the country’s border with Poland. They…
Is the European centre collapsing?
There’s a growing tension in the European bloc between those unhappy with Brussels’s increasing interventionism and by those who feel the…
Von der Leyen is the real winner of the German elections
The bald guy who leads the Social Democrats. The earnest looking Green lady. Or perhaps the guy in the charcoal-grey…
The German elections are good news for Macron
The German election result means that a three party coalition will almost certainly be needed to form a government. Olaf…
Who will succeed Merkel?
The results of the German election have shifted somewhat since last night’s exit poll. What we know for sure is…
German voters set for a tense night
The German elections have turned out to be an unexpected nail-biter. Since the exit polls were released earlier this evening…
Feted abroad, dismissed at home: will Germans really miss Merkel?
As Angela Merkel finally steps down, the verdict on her leadership – at least from overseas – appears to be…
The stalemate election: can Germany move beyond Merkel?
Germany needs to progress beyond Merkel – but will it?
The beauty of the Normandy memorial
As the cross-Channel ferry noses into Ouistreham, I have a perfect view westward along the D-Day beaches. The excitement of…
Why won't German politicians talk about migration?
For a country with a reputation for being staid and predictable, the election campaign that closes the Merkel era in…
The sad circus of the German election
The German election campaign has been entirely lacking in substance. Laschet, Baerbock, Scholz: none seem to grip the public’s attention.…
Could a left-wing coalition end up running Germany?
A spectre is haunting Germany — the spectre of the left. As Merkel’s Christian Democrats fall further behind in the…
How Germany's Free Democratic party capitalised on the AfD's misfortunes
One of the most remarkable stories to come out of Germany in the last year has been the rise of…
The Prince of Prussia's Nazi problem
Perched on a mountain top overlooking the Swabian Alps, Hohenzollern Castle, with its picturesque towers, seems like something out of a…
How the gender debate is dividing Germany
Pronoun politics can be something of a minefield. But if you think the gender debate is confusing, spare a thought…
Europe will suffer as Germany drifts
Over the last 15 years Germany has come to be seen by many in Europe as a paragon of political…
The beauty of wine from the Rhine
In an apparently benign — almost prelapsarian — setting, the Rhine is an epitome of the human condition. Scenery is…
The EU is failing to stand up for eastern Europe
Will the EU stand up for eastern Europe? This question is now being asked by Ukraine following the announcement of…
How will Merkel cope with retirement?
Retirement sounds pretty nice. The ONS says that pensioners spend an average of seven hours and ten minutes a day on…
Could Germany's flood disaster have been prevented?
As the floods which have devastated homes and caused over 150 deaths recede in the Rhineland, three types of political…
