Germany
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…
Is climate change to blame for Germany’s flooding?
Greta Thunberg has declared the floods in Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands to be the product of man-made climate change,…
The rule of law is breaking down in the EU
There are 27 member states in the EU. Two have now declared they are not bound by EU law. Based…
The uninspiring choice facing German voters
The gloves are off in Germany’s electoral race. As personal insults are traded and skeletons dragged from their closets, even…
What's the problem with Gareth Southgate's 'war talk'?
War analogies are a cherished football tradition. From chants of ‘Stand up if you won the war’ to the Daily…
Angela’s ashes: Merkel is leaving the EU in chaos
Merkel is leaving the EU in chaos
The German takeover of the EU is accelerating
Vetoes should no longer be allowed. Smaller countries should not be able to block the will of the ‘majority’. And…
Why the far-right flourishes in East Germany
A spectre is haunting Germany — the spectre of the AfD. Having come to prominence on a wave of anti-migrant…
The Dickensian delights of London in lockdown
I’m blessed by the fact that I live almost smack-bang in the middle of old London, a pebble’s toe punt…
'Germans thought we couldn't play': Irmin Schmidt, of Krautrock pioneers Can, interviewed
Krautrock pioneer Irmin Schmidt talks to Graeme Thomson about taking risks, playing badly and ignoring the Brits
Germany's growing extremism problem
On 2 June 2019, a German politician was found lying in a pool of blood outside his home in Hesse.…
France needs Britain more than ever
‘What is grave about this situation, Messieurs, is that it is not serious’, was how General de Gaulle addressed his…