Germany edition

Steinmeier

The following articles have been tagged with "Steinmeier":

President 'can be called liar', loses public favour

Politics: 28 Jan 12
President Christian Wulff can be called a liar, a state prosecutor has ruled, dismissing complaints about a Green politician doing so. Wulff’s backing among the public is dwindling despite support from Chancellor Angela Merkel. READ »

Merkel under pressure in president scandal

Politics: 8 Jan 12
Germany's main opposition party increased its pressure on Chancellor Angela Merkel over President Christian Wulff, saying his scandal was hers and calling for new elections if he were to step down. READ »

SPD puts off picking chancellor candidate

Politics: 5 Dec 11
The Social Democratic Party (SPD) has sentenced itself to another year of unofficial wrangling for the top job of challenging Chancellor Angela Merkel in the 2013 election. READ »

Steinbrück rules out new grand coalition

Politics: 4 Dec 11
Former Finance Minister Peer Steinbrück, a leading member of the centre-left Social Democrats (SPD), has categorically ruled out entering a new grand coalition under Chancellor Angela Merkel. READ »

Bundestag 'ashamed' by racist murders

Politics: 22 Nov 11
German parliamentarians from across the political spectrum expressed shame Tuesday over a decade-long murder spree blamed on a neo-Nazi cell and pledged to do more to protect the nation's minority communities. READ »

Afghanistan to see German troop drawdown

National: 11 Nov 11
The German government plans to reduce the number of Bundeswehr soldiers deployed in Afghanistan by 1,000 in the coming year, according to a letter sent to Bundestag parliamentarians by the Foreign and Defence ministries. READ »

Effort to ease dual citizenship fails

National: 10 Nov 11
Germany's left-wing opposition failed on Thursday to convince parliament that children born to foreign parents should be able to keep dual citizenship beyond 23, after Chancellor Merkel's centre-right coalition torpedoed the measure. READ »

Social Democrats gain support amid euro crisis

Politics: 14 Sep 11
Popular support for the Social Democratic Party is at its highest level since 2008, reaching 29 percent, according to the latest Stern-RTL survey. READ »

Leadership troika helps SPD recover support

Politics: 3 Aug 11
Germany's centre-left Social Democratic Party (SPD) appears to be pulling itself out of the political doldrums with a new three-man leadership troika, according to a poll published on Wednesday. READ »

Speculation mounts for Steinbrück comeback

Politics: 17 Jul 11
Former Finance Minister Peer Steinbrück has apparently returned to leadership discussions in the Social Democratic Party, heating speculation that he could be the party's chancellor candidate in the 2013 election. READ »

Merkel to stand for chancellor in 2013

Politics: 9 Jul 11
German Chancellor Angela Merkel intends to run for a third mandate in 2013 elections, she said on television on Saturday. READ »

Only half of Germans want tax cuts

Business & Money: 8 Jul 11
In a sign of Germans’ financial priorities, just half of voters favour tax cuts right now and Finance Minister Wolfgang Schäuble – a noted tax cut sceptic – has rocketed to become the most popular politician in the country. READ »

SPD's Steinmeier won't rule out early elections

Politics: 2 Jul 11
The Social Democratic Party (SDP) parliamentary leader and former chancellor candidate Frank-Walter Steinmeier says he is no longer ruling out early elections in Germany. READ »

Lawmakers push to boost rate of organ donation

Society: 27 Jun 11
Every person in Germany would be actively asked if they want to be an organ donor under plans being drafted by lawmakers to boost the rate of donation. About 1,000 Germans died each year waiting for organs. READ »

Tax cuts only to help FDP, Steinmeier says

Politics: 27 Jun 11
The centre-left opposition accused Chancellor Angela Merkel on Monday of trying to push through irresponsible tax cuts purely to give a leg up to her ailing pro-business coalition partners the Free Democratic Party (FDP). READ »

Politicians plan boycott of pope's Bundestag speech

National: 25 Jun 11
Several Social Democratic parliamentarians are planning to boycott the speech Pope Benedict XVI is scheduled to give to the Bundestag in September. They accuse the pontiff of oppressing millions around the world. READ »

Parliament to investigate Steinmeier claims

Politics: 30 Apr 11
Parliament is to investigate allegations that head of the Social Democratic Party’s parliamentary fraction, Frank-Walter Steinmeier was involved in an illegal political donation to the then chancellor candidate Gerhard Schröder. READ »

Steinmeier wants everyone asked organ donation question

Society: 17 Apr 11
Frank-Walter Steinmeier, parliamentary group leader for the Social Democratic Party, wants the law changed so that every German is asked once in their lives whether they would be prepared to donate their organs after they die. READ »

Boring Steinmeier charms his way back into Germany's heart

Politics: 8 Apr 11
Frank-Walter Steinmeier, the owlish Social Democrat deemed too boring to be chancellor when he ran against Angela Merkel in 2009, is now the most popular politician in the country, a poll revealed Friday. READ »

Bundestag votes to broaden Afghan mission

National: 25 Mar 11
Facing criticism over Germany’s refusal to contribute to the military intervention in Libya, the Bundestag voted Friday to relieve NATO allies by broadening the German mission in Afghanistan. READ »

Guttenberg and the price of decency

Analysis & Opinion: 1 Mar 11
Decency has won the day, but the price for that victory is high. Malte Lehming from Der Tagesspiegel examines Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg’s downfall and what his resignation might mean for Angela Merkel. READ »

Steinbrück slaps down candidacy for ECB job

Politics: 13 Feb 11
Former Finance Minister Peer Steinbrück has rejected his Social Democratic colleague Frank-Walter Steinmeier’s suggestion that he stand for the position of head of the European Central Bank. READ »

Crucial papers to include organ donation will

Society: 29 Jan 11
Germany's top politicians want driving licenses and passports to include a person's declaration on whether they want to donate their organs after they die in a bid to boost donor numbers. READ »

Guttenberg orders full review of armed forces

National: 23 Jan 11
German Defence Minister Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg has called for a comprehensive investigation into potential breaches of Bundeswehr protocol in the armed forces, according to a Sunday news report. READ »

SPD calls for 2011 Afghanistan withdrawal

Politics: 26 Dec 10
The leader of the main opposition Social Democratic Party (SPD) Frank-Walter Steinmeier has set conditions for his party's agreement to extending Germany's military operation in Afghanistan. READ »

Merkel attacks 'obstructionist' Greens

Politics: 24 Nov 10
A fiery Angela Merkel went on the offensive during the parliamentary budget debate Wednesday. As her centre-right coalition’s poll numbers lag, the Chancellor took aim at the increasingly popular Greens. READ »

Poll places Steinbrück as possible Chancellor

Politics: 27 Sep 10
Former Finance Minister and Social Democratic heavyweight Peer Steinbrück has warned his party against lurching to the left in a speech that could position him as the party’s next candidate for Chancellor. READ »

Organ donor rules causes coalition row

Society: 29 Aug 10
Members of Chancellor Merkel's conservatives are at odds with Germany's health minister on whether the government should ease restrictions on organ donations, according to a Sunday media report. READ »

Steinmeier's kidney donation successful

Politics: 25 Aug 10
Social Democratic parliamentary leader Frank-Walter Steinmeier's kidney transplant to his wife was successful and both patients are now recovering, a media report said on Wednesday. READ »

Steinmeier takes leave to donate kidney to wife

Politics: 23 Aug 10
Parliamentary leader for the centre-left Social Democrats, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, announced Monday that he would be taking time off until October to donate a kidney to his ailing wife. READ »

SPD buries hatchet over pension age hike policy

Politics: 18 Aug 10
The two top Social Democrats, chairman Sigmar Gabriel and parliamentary leader Frank-Walter Steinmeier, have reached a compromise after months of battling over the question of raising the retirement age, media reported Wednesday. READ »

TV news anchor Seibert to become Merkel's spokesman

Politics: 12 Jul 10
Steffen Seibert, the popular TV news anchor for ZDF set to become the new face of the centre-right coalition as Chancellor Angela Merkel’s chief spokesman, faces a baptism of fire, former colleagues and media experts have warned. READ »

Interior minister's car stolen in Dresden

Politics: 8 Jul 10
German Interior Minister Thomas de Maizière’s private car has been stolen in the eastern city of Dresden, police confirmed on Thursday. READ »

Higher health insurance costs approved

National: 6 Jul 10
Workers and their employers will have to kick more money into health insurance schemes as part of a rescue package the government announced Tuesday in an effort to prop up cash-strapped insurers. READ »

Embattled coalition faces calls for fresh elections

Politics: 14 Jun 10
Is Chancellor Angela Merkel’s embattled centre-right coalition on the ropes? German opposition politicians on Monday demanded early elections, but the government is hoping to stay the course. READ »

FDP open to Rhineland 'traffic light' coalition

Politics: 31 May 10
The pro-business Free Democrats have expressed a new willingness to form a so-called “traffic light coalition” with the centre-left Social Democrats and the environmentalist Greens in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia. READ »

SPD refuses support for Greece package

Politics: 6 May 10
The opposition Social Democrats appeared set to deny the government support for the rescue package for Greece Thursday, blowing a hole in government hopes of bipartisanship on the controversial issue. READ »

Merkel says EU's future at stake in Greek crisis

Politics: 5 May 10
German Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Wednesday that the Greek debt crisis had put the fate of the Europe Union and Germany's role within the bloc on the line. READ »

FDP unveils scaled-down tax reform proposal

Politics: 13 Apr 10
The Free Democrats, Chancellor Angela Merkel’s junior coalition partners, on Tuesday presented a greatly scaled-down tax reform proposal aimed at simplifying Germany’s tax system and providing billions in tax relief. READ »

Bundeswehr kills five Afghan allied soldiers

National: 3 Apr 10
The German military killed five Afghan soldiers late Friday in a “friendly fire” incident when they launched an attack on two cars that failed to stop while approaching the German forces, the army has confirmed. READ »

SPD attacked over Hartz IV proposals

Politics: 16 Mar 10
Labour Minister Ursula von der Leyen blasted the opposition Social Democrats’ proposals for reforming Hartz IV welfare benefits Tuesday as a “backward” vision that aimed to make recipients “as comfortable as possible.” READ »

Westerwelle blasted over partner's travel

Politics: 10 Mar 10
Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle was hit with criticism Wednesday that his partner Michael Mronz was accompanying him on a South American trip to do his own business networking. READ »

Coalition defends first 100 days of governance

Politics: 5 Feb 10
German Chancellor Angela Merkel defended her centre-right coalition on Thursday evening following widespread criticism that the government had bungled its first 100 days in power. READ »

SPD: No additional troops for Afghanistan

Politics: 23 Jan 10
Germany's opposition Social Democrats have said they are against increasing the number of troops serving in Afghanistan following reports the Defence Minister Guttenberg might call for more soldiers. READ »

Disagreements reign over how to end Afghan mission by 2011

National: 17 Jan 10
The German government intends to secure cross-party support for a plan to end its Afghan mission, although disagreements remain over whether more soldiers should be sent ahead of withdrawal. READ »

Steinbach's halfhearted compromise

Analysis & Opinion: 5 Jan 10
Erika Steinbach will have little success trying to outwit those in the German government opposed to her joining a foundation for people displaced after World War II, argues Ludwig Greven from Zeit Online. READ »

US pilot opposed German Afghan attack orders

National: 5 Dec 09
The US fighter pilots called in by German commanders in Afghanistan for a controversial air strike on two fuel tankers that left many civilians dead questioned their orders several times before attacking. READ »

SPD to target Guttenberg in Afghan inquiry

National: 29 Nov 09
Following former Defence Minister Franz Josef Jung’s resignation, the opposition Social Democrats will target his successor Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg in an inquiry into the controversial Afghan airstrike, SPD general secretary Andrea Nahles said on Sunday. READ »

ZDF editor shown the door amid political row

National: 28 Nov 09
The conservative Christian Democratic Union won its bid late Friday to force out broadcaster ZDF’s editor-in-chief Nikolaus Brender in a move journalists, unions and opposition parties branded a major blow against media freedom. READ »

Law professors defend TV news editor in press freedom row

National: 23 Nov 09
A row over press freedom in Germany deepened over the weekend as 35 prominent constitutional law professors wrote an open letter to defend the editor of a TV channel under political pressure to step down. READ »

New SPD leaders flag fresh tax approach

Politics: 15 Nov 09
The centre-left Social Democrats will rebuild their reputation as a Volkspartei – or “people’s party” – new chairman Sigmar Gabriel announced Sunday, wrapping up an SPD conference with a clear signal that a new generation is in charge. READ »

Gabriel urges SPD to avoid lurch to the left

Politics: 14 Nov 09
The centre-left Social Democrats’ new chairman Sigmar Gabriel has called on his party to resist the urge to swing to the left despite its recent historic election loss, and instead to recapture the political centre. READ »

SPD looks to regroup as Müntefering bows out

Politics: 13 Nov 09
The end of an era arrived for the centre-left Social Democrats on Friday when party chairman Franz Müntefering stepped down with a speech attempting to rally his beleaguered party at a conference in Dresden. READ »

Press mauls new government plans

Politics: 25 Oct 09
Trade unions, opposition leaders and the press savaged German Chancellor Angela Merkel's new-look government Sunday over what they called a fiscally reckless and socially unjust plan for the next term. READ »

Steinmeier welcomes Polish embrace of Lisbon treaty

Politics: 10 Oct 09
Outgoing Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier welcomed the decision by Poland on Saturday to ratify the Lisbon Treaty to reform the European Union. READ »

Merkel: Obama's Nobel prize ‘incentive’ for peace

National: 9 Oct 09
German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Friday welcomed the award of the Nobel Peace Prize to US President Barack Obama, calling it an "incentive to the president and to us all" to do more for peace. READ »

SPD makes Steinmeier parliamentary leader

Politics: 29 Sep 09
After he failed to oust Angela Merkel from the Chancellery, Social Democratic MPs voted to make outgoing foreign minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier the head of the opposition as the leader of the party's parliamentary group on Tuesday. READ »

Making the SPD relevant through redundancy

Analysis & Opinion: 29 Sep 09
The Social Democrats suffered a resounding defeat in Sunday’s election. Lorenz Maroldt, editor-in-chief of Berlin daily Der Tagesspiegel, believes the beleaguered party can now deal with the issues it has neglected for too long. READ »

Merkel warns Germans of challenges ahead

National: 28 Sep 09
Angela Merkel set to work Monday on a new centre-right coalition after clinching a second term, but warned Germans of a hard road ahead to revive the sickly economy and rescue jobs. READ »

Greens vow to oppose U-turn on German nuclear phaseout

Society: 28 Sep 09
Green groups vowed on Monday to hit the streets if Chancellor Angela Merkel's victorious new coalition keeps its campaign promise to reverse Germany's scheduled exit from nuclear power. READ »

The Local's live coverage of the 2009 election

Politics: 27 Sep 09
Join The Local for live coverage from the election headquarters of Germany's five main political parties in Berlin. We'll have interviews and insights all evening long. READ »

Merkel's conservatives win with FDP: exit polls

Politics: 27 Sep 09
Early exit polls showed Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservatives winning Germany's election on Sunday, with a centre-right coalition with the Free Democrats likely. READ »

Turnout low as German voters head to the polls

Politics: 27 Sep 09
Despite abundant sunshine and mild temperatures across much of Germany, voter turnout for the country's general election on Sunday was shaping up to be much lower than four years ago. READ »

Former general calls for Afghan withdrawal by 2012

National: 27 Sep 09
A prominent former Bundeswehr general and NATO commander has called for German troops to start pulling out of Afghanistan within three years. READ »

Parties make final push before election

Politics: 26 Sep 09
German Chancellor Angela Merkel made an 11th-hour push for votes on Saturday, the eve of an election expected to return her to power but perhaps not in the new coalition she wants. READ »

Steinmeier warns of social unrest with Merkel

Politics: 26 Sep 09
German Chancellor Angela Merkel's embattled challenger Frank-Walter Steinmeier has warned of social injustice and unrest if her right-wing coalition of choice wins Sunday's poll and predicted its lead would vanish on election night. READ »

Merkel starts to actively court female voters

Politics: 23 Sep 09
She is Forbes magazine's most powerful woman in the world, but German Chancellor Angela Merkel has a decidedly ambivalent relationship with the role of gender in politics. READ »

FDP's joker Westerwelle shapes up for coalition with Merkel

Politics: 22 Sep 09
Guido Westerwelle, who aims to become foreign minister in a new government under Chancellor Angela Merkel, has had to shake off his “joker” image to make it in the often staid world of German politics. READ »

Battered SPD limps into national election

Politics: 21 Sep 09
Germany's centre-left Social Democrats (SPD) are limping towards what could be their worst post-war election result this Sunday, opinion polls suggest, possibly condemning them to a period in opposition. READ »

Opel job cuts may begin Monday

Business & Money: 20 Sep 09
Media reports over the weekend suggest that Magna, the new owner of car maker Opel, could begin mass layoffs as early as Monday, starting with over 1,800 jobs at Opel headquarters in Rüsselsheim near Frankfurt. READ »

Bundeswehr sees need for more troops in Afghanistan

National: 19 Sep 09
A German military commander in Afghanistan says his forces there need more soldiers and equipment to operate effectively, the news magazine Focus reported Saturday. READ »

Steinmeier calls for further probe of Afghan election results

National: 17 Sep 09
German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier has said that Afghanistan's elections results must be carefully checked because of fraud accusations. READ »

Schavan withholds nuclear energy study

Science & Technology: 16 Sep 09
Education and Research Minister Annette Schavan has been withholding a study on nuclear energy that contains results too controversial to reveal ahead of Germany's election, Financial Times Deutschland revealed on Wednesday. READ »

Merkel chugs through Germany on whistle-stop tour

Politics: 16 Sep 09
Chancellor Angela Merkel rode a 1920s luxury train as she campaigned across Germany on Tuesday, retracing the steps of the country's first post-war chancellor ahead of the September 27 election. READ »

Opposition rails against grand coalition but blocks alternatives

Politics: 15 Sep 09
Germany’s three main opposition parties agree the worst election outcome would be a continuation of Angela Merkel’s grand coalition. Unfortunately for them they’ve also torpedoed the possibility of forming any viable alternative. READ »

Berlin calls air strike in Afghanistan 'necessary'

National: 14 Sep 09
The German Defence Ministry on Monday stood by a controversial air strike that is thought to have caused scores of civilian casualties in Afghanistan two weeks ago. READ »

Press: Steinmeier's better in debate but not good enough

Politics: 14 Sep 09
German Chancellor Angela Merkel's beleaguered challenger performed better than expected in a TV debate two weeks before elections but failed to land a knock-out punch, the press said Monday. READ »

Merkel and Steinmeier choose TV duet over duel

Politics: 13 Sep 09
Chancellor Angela Merkel and her challenger Frank-Walter Steinmeier sparred on Sunday night on minimum wages and nuclear power in an otherwise tepid TV debate two weeks before Germany's general election. READ »

Merkel and Steinmeier square off in TV debate

Politics: 13 Sep 09
Angela Merkel and Frank-Walter Steinmeier were poised to battle it out Sunday in a TV debate seen as the latter's last chance to close the gap on the German chancellor two weeks before elections. READ »

Steinmeier plans to end Afghan ops by 2013

National: 13 Sep 09
Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier has released a ten-point plan to take Germany’s troops out of Afghanistan, setting what has been described as the surprisingly optimistic target of 2013 for the end of German operations there. READ »

Election TV debate last chance for sparks

Politics: 12 Sep 09
Chancellor Angela Merkel will square off with her rival for power, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, on Sunday in a televised debate widely seen as his last chance to close a double-digit gap on the popular German leader. READ »

Germany is not Opel

Analysis & Opinion: 11 Sep 09
We are Opel. The motto showing support for Opel workers certainly has its charm. But it also shows the ridiculous importance Germans have attached to the fate of the struggling carmaker, argues Der Tagesspiegel’s Moritz Döbler. READ »

The Left party surges in latest opinion poll

Politics: 9 Sep 09
Germany's socialist party The Left has surged to its best level this year in a new opinion poll, while Chancellor Merkel's preferred coalition has lost its potential majority just weeks before the general election. READ »

Merkel defends German mission in Afghanistan

National: 8 Sep 09
German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Tuesday defended Berlin’s military deployment in Afghanistan and rejected “prejudgement” of a controversial NATO air strike called by the Bundeswehr last week. READ »

Merkel to address parliament over air strike

National: 7 Sep 09
Chancellor Angela Merkel has agreed to address parliament on Tuesday over a deadly air strike in Afghanistan ordered by a German commander as her government came under fire 20 days before elections. READ »

GM reportedly to keep Opel for fear of Russians

Business & Money: 5 Sep 09
US car giant General Motors has reportedly decided not to sell the German carmaker despite months of negotiating with potential buyers for fear of handing technology to Russian competitors. READ »

Merkel rejects renewing grand coalition

Politics: 4 Sep 09
Renewing Germany’s grand coalition government would not provide stability for the nation, Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Friday. READ »

Merkel ahead in polls as election battle heats up

Politics: 2 Sep 09
With 25 days until Germany’s federal elections, Chancellor Angela Merkel looks set to win a second term in power with her preferred centre-right coalition, according to two opinion polls published on Wednesday. READ »

Merkel brushes aside campaign critics

Politics: 31 Aug 09
German Chancellor Angela Merkel brushed aside calls on Monday from within her own party to pull off the gloves in her battle for re-election in four weeks after strong setbacks in state polls. READ »

State polls muddle German general election

Analysis & Opinion: 31 Aug 09
If no one wins is everyone a loser? The Local’s Marc Young attempts to find the significance of Germany’s muddled state elections on Sunday less than a month ahead of a national poll. READ »

Steinmeier exults in SPD state election gains

Politics: 31 Aug 09
Chancellor Angela Merkel's challenger hit the final four weeks of election campaigning on Monday claiming he could still win after Merkel's conservatives suffered heavy losses in two states following elections on Sunday. READ »

CDU loses state polls in Saarland and Thuringia

Politics: 30 Aug 09
Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservatives on Sunday suffered a setback a month before Germany's general election, with exit polls indicating the Christian Democrats could lose power in Saarland and Thuringia. READ »

Early turnout low in state elections

Politics: 30 Aug 09
Early indications suggest that turnout in Sunday's state elections in Saarland, Saxony and Thuringia has been relatively low, despite their importance as fore-runners for next month's general election. READ »

Steinmeier attacks Merkel's tax plans

Politics: 30 Aug 09
Social Democratic Party (SPD) candidate Frank-Walter Steinmeier derided Chancellor Angela Merkel's promise to reduce taxes in the coming legislative period should she win September's election. READ »

State elections may shock CDU

Politics: 29 Aug 09
German Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservatives will likely take a hit in three state polls Sunday, but she still looks set to cruise to victory in next month's general election. READ »

Ulla Schmidt won't be audited in car scandal

Politics: 27 Aug 09
The government budgetary committee has opted not to have Germany’s Federal Court of Auditors review Health Minister Ulla Schmidt’s controversial use of her official car while on holiday in Spain. READ »

A political primer for Germany's election on September 27

Analysis & Opinion: 27 Aug 09
With just over a month left until Germans head to the polls, Dr. Jackson Janes from the American Institute for Contemporary German Studies offers a primer of what’s at stake for Angela Merkel and her challenger Frank-Walter Steinmeier. READ »

Berlin pressures GM on Opel decision

Business & Money: 24 Aug 09
General Motors kept Germans guessing over the weekend over the fate of its troubled Opel unit even as pressure mounted for a decision on a proposed takeover by Canada's Magna International. READ »

More than half expect new coalition, most see Merkel staying

Politics: 23 Aug 09
More than half of Germans are expecting a change of government after the September 27 federal election according to a poll published in the weekly Bild am Sonntag newspaper. READ »

Germany's election campaign to nowhere

Analysis & Opinion: 19 Aug 09
A government car scandal, an industrial policy paper no one wants to accept responsibility for and plenty of noise: Katharina Schuler from Zeit Online believes German voters deserve a better election campaign. READ »

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