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Friedrich Merz

Merz: The Trump Administration Doesn't Care About Europe

Germany's election winner Friedrich Merz wants to unite Europe to achieve greater independence from a USA governed by Donald Trump. "For me, it is an absolute priority to strengthen Europe as soon as possible," he says in German TV.

Merz: The Trump Administration Doesn't Care About Europe

Kristersson looks forward to cooperation with Germany

The Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson looks forward to cooperating with Germany's new government for a safer Europe. .

Kristersson looks forward to cooperation with Germany

German top politician: We are keeping a close eye on Sweden

The Christian Democrats – who appear to be leading the next German government – are closely examining how Sweden has revised its migration policy. This is what Dorothee Bär, Vice President of the Bavarian CSU, tells TT at the Christian Democrats' election watch.

German top politician: We are keeping a close eye on Sweden

Expert: Merz won but underperformed

The Germans have cast their votes and as expected, the Christian Democratic CDU/CSU appears to be the largest party with Friedrich Merz as the new Federal Chancellor. But it didn't go as well as the party had hoped, according to political scientist Maria Thürk.

Expert: Merz won but underperformed

Power Shift in Germany: "The World is Not Waiting"

Government shift awaits in Germany and the next Chancellor is likely to be named Friedrich Merz from the conservative CDU. The leader of the Social Democrats, Olaf Scholz, says that he personally will not participate in the next government.

Power Shift in Germany: "The World is Not Waiting"

German Voter: Most Important That AFD Doesn't Get to Govern

With hours to go before the polling stations close in Germany, voters' nerves are on edge. Several Berliners TT has spoken to highlight the high-nationalist AfD's success in the opinion polls as alarming.

German Voter: Most Important That AFD Doesn't Get to Govern

Fateful Election in Germany: "Europe's Future is at Stake"

The game plan has been turned upside down, old alliances are being hollowed out and a new world order is taking shape, where might makes right. Today, Germany is going to the polls – feeling its way through its role in the new reality.

Fateful Election in Germany: "Europe's Future is at Stake"

The Murder of Yannis, 2, Can Decide the German Election

A deadly knife attack on defenseless preschool children casts a dark shadow over the German election. The hair-raising deed in Aschaffenburg – with a mentally ill perpetrator from Afghanistan – has made the migration issue red-hot in the election campaign.

The Murder of Yannis, 2, Can Decide the German Election

Merz: Last chance to stop the far-right

Olaf Scholz and Friedrich Merz faced each other on Wednesday in the last TV debate before the German election. And much was about immigration and the far-right.

Merz: Last chance to stop the far-right

Optimism among German investors

German investors and analysts are more optimistic than in a long time. .

Optimism among German investors

The backlash shakes up the German election: "Unacceptable"

The days leading up to the German election on Sunday are expected to be dominated by the debate about alleged US interference. I will not let an American vice president tell me who I can talk to here in Germany, says Friedrich Merz, the favourite to win and CDU leader.

The backlash shakes up the German election: "Unacceptable"

CDU Leader Merz Rules Out Cooperation with AFD

The Christian Democratic CDU leader Friedrich Merz – who has good chances of becoming Germany's new Chancellor in the election on February 23 – rules out all cooperation with the far-right in Germany. .

CDU Leader Merz Rules Out Cooperation with AFD

New giant protests against German far-right

More than 250,000 people protested against the far-right party Alternative for Germany (AFD) in Munich on Saturday, according to German authorities. .

New giant protests against German far-right

Merz rules out: No cooperation with the far-right

The Conservative CDU should not cooperate with the extreme right-wing party Alternative for Germany (AFD). Party leader Friedrich Merz's statement comes as a surprise since CDU has sought support from AFD to push through stricter asylum laws.

Merz rules out: No cooperation with the far-right

Massive Protest Against German Right-Wing Shift

Over 160,000 demonstrators gathered at various locations in central Berlin on Sunday to express their disgust over the conservative CDU's shift to the right since the party sought support from the extreme right-wing party Alternative for Germany (AFD) for stricter asylum legislation. A large protest took place outside CDU's party headquarters in the German capital following last week's political developments.

Massive Protest Against German Right-Wing Shift

Controversial asylum law rejected in Germany

Germany's federal parliament voted down a proposal for an asylum law that the conservative CDU had put forward with controversial support from the far-right party Alternative for Germany (AFD). .

Controversial asylum law rejected in Germany

Scholz's challenger breaks tabu – gets support from AFD

The migration issue dominates the German debate ahead of the election in February. Chancellor Olaf Scholz's challenger Friedrich Merz has no objection to support from the far-right to push through tougher rules for immigration.

Scholz's challenger breaks tabu – gets support from AFD

Mistake made – Merkel's criticism of her successor

Mistake made, says Germany's former Chancellor Angela Merkel in rare criticism of her conservative party colleagues in CDU. .

Mistake made – Merkel's criticism of her successor

Our security is acutely threatened by Russia

Europe's security is "acutely threatened" by Russia, claims Friedrich Merz, who is tipped to become Germany's Chancellor after the election in February. The shift in power in the USA must be a wake-up call to re-establish an effective European deterrent, believes the CDU leader.

Our security is acutely threatened by Russia

Preschool children stabbed to death – anger grows in Germany

Armed with a kitchen knife, the 28-year-old mentally ill person followed a group of preschool children on an outing – and launched an attack. Wednesday's hair-raising deed in German Aschaffenburg, where a two-year-old boy was hacked to death, sparks outrage and disgust across the entire country.

Preschool children stabbed to death – anger grows in Germany

Criticism of Musk after praise for right-wing extremists

The political waves in Germany after tech billionaire Elon Musk's praise of the far-right party AFD are rolling heavily. The opposition leader, conservative Friedrich Merz, calls Musk's statement "impolite and arrogant".

Criticism of Musk after praise for right-wing extremists

The Federal Diet Dissolved – New Election in Germany

Germany's president Frank-Walter Steinmeier dissolves the federal parliament and announces new elections on February 23. .

The Federal Diet Dissolved – New Election in Germany

German Re-election after Scholz Loses Confidence

Germany's Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz lost, as expected, a confidence vote in parliament. The Christian Democrats are the favorite in the new election expected in February.

German Re-election after Scholz Loses Confidence

Poland and France discuss peacekeeping force in Ukraine

Talks about a future peacekeeping force in Ukraine are expected when Poland's Prime Minister Donald Tusk receives France's President Emmanuel Macron. .

Poland and France discuss peacekeeping force in Ukraine