News

Merkel confident for Germany's Sept. 27 election, UPI (2009)

This article offers German Chancellor Merkel's reaction to the August 30th state elections, in which Christian Democrats lost their majorities in state legislatures in Saarland and Thuringia.

Merkel Challenger Feels 'Tailwind' Going Into Vote, Bloomberg (2009)

The article discusses the latest developments in the election campaign before the September 27 elections. Despite the lead of Christian Democrats (CDU) in the polls, the opposition SPD feels stronger after the only television debate in the campaign.

Germany on edge after fourth consecutive al-Qaeda bomb attack warning, The Times Online (2009)

Only several days before elections, al-Qaeda threatens Germany with bomb attacks close to the election date, and urges voters to choose parties that will withdraw from Afghanistan.

Merkel's lead holds as German election nears, Reuters (2009)

The article discusses the newest pre-election polls, indicating that another grand coalition may rule Germany after the September 27 elections.

Merkel gets her 'dream coalition' as Social Democrat vote collapses, The Independent (2009)

This article informs about the results of the elections, which brought an end to the ruling grand coalition and lead to the new coalition of Merkel's Christian Democrats and the Free Democrats.

German Coalition Faces Tough Regional Vote, Wall Street Journal (2010)

German Chancellor Angela Merkel has managed so far to limit the political backlash in Germany against the Greek bailout. The bad news for Ms. Merkel: Her coalition is nonetheless heading for defeat in crucial regional elections.

Germany: 'Knife-Edge' State Election Could Curb Merkel's Power, Spiegel Online (2010)

An election on May 9 in Germany's most populous state, North Rhine-Westphalia, could transform the country's political landscape and weaken Chancellor Angela Merkel, whose conservative Christian Democrats have been hit by revelations of funding irregularities.

Merkel’s CDU Gets Worst Post-War Result on Greece, Bloomberg Business week (2010)

Chancellor Angela Merkel’s party plunged to its worst result since World War II in Germany’s most populous state, losing control of parliament’s upper house in Berlin, as voters punished her reversal on aid for Greece.

Germany's Chancellor Merkel faces election fallout, BBC (2010)

Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel likes to take her time before making important decisions. But in North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW), her timing couldn't have been worse.

Germany: Key State Vote Handicaps Merkel, Spiegel Online (2010)

The final results from the Sunday elections show Angela Merkel's fall in the North Rhine-Westfalia region. The Christian Democrats lost almost 10 percentage points since the last election in 2005.

Germany's coalition wants Wulff as president, The Wall Street Journal (2010)

Angela Merkel presented the presidential candidate for the center-right coalition, Christian Wulff. The president will be elected on June 30 by the federal assembly. In this assembly, the center-right coalition parties hold a sound majority.

Germany: Embattled coalition faces calls for fresh elections, The Local (2010)

The opposition parties are calling for new elections in Germany. The center-right government, the opposition claims, did not react properly to the economic crisis and the coalition is not stable.

Merkel's conservatives lose backing in Germany, Angus Reid Global Monitor (2010)

This article presents the latest opinion poll in Germany. The ruling allied parties are losing percentage points over the opposition, the poll showed. If elections took place, the Christian Democratic Union would gain 33% of the votes, The Social Democratic Party 31%, and the Green Party 15%.

Germany: Presidential vote will test Merkel, The Wall Street Journal (2010)

This article discusses the important implications of the upcoming presidential elections in Germany. On Wednesday, the government's cohesion will be tested in the presidential election in the parliament.

Germany: Wulff likely to win vote for presidency, The Financial Times (2010)

This article presents the latest updates in the German presidential elections. Christian Wulff, supported by the center-right majority, will probably elected the next federal president of Germany. His main opponent is Joachim Gauck, a independent candidate proposed by the opposition parties, the Social Democrats and the Greens.

Angela Merkel's candidate wins German presidency after three rounds, The Telegraph (2010)

This article reports on the election of the German president. Angela Merkel's coalition rejected her candidate, Christian Wulff, twice in the German Parliament. Eventually, however, Mr Wulff won 625 votes (over 1,244 MPs and regional representatives).

SDP Closing in on Merkel’s Conservatives in Germany, Angus Reid Global Monitor (2010)

This article discusses past election results in Germany as well as a recent poll that indicates that the Social Democratic Party (SPD) will be in tight competition with the current government in the next federal election.

Merkel's parties keep narrow lead in Germany, Angus Reid Global Monitor (2010)

This article reports on the latest opinion polls in Germany. The governing conservative parties still have the majority of the potential votes (30%), while the Social Democratic Party's popularity is stable at 28%.

Germany: Could State election spell end for Merkel? Spiegel Online (2010)

This article reports on the state election in the south-western state of Baden-Württemberg in Germany. This state election has become particularly important because it will be a test for Angela Merkel's government. The ruling coalition government is currently losing support in the opinion polls.

Germany: Popular Greens in pole position for election shake-up, The Irish Times (2010)

This article reports on the rising popularity of the Green Party in Germany. According to a recent opinion poll, 30% of the people living in Berlin support the Greens and its leader, Renate Künast. Berlin has always been the Social Democrat's stronghold, but now their popularity is going down (26%), making the Green Party the strongest one in the city.

Germany: From radical opposition to mainstream party: The rise of the Greens, Deutsche Welle (2010)

This article reports on the rise of Green Party in Germany. The author presents the history of this party, which was created as an anti-party party of intellectuals and in 30 years its popularity has continued to rise in opinion polls: in 2009 the party reached its best election results yet, 10.7%.

Big losses for Merkel in German state elections, CNN News (2011)

The article discusses the preliminary state election results in Germany. Chancellor Merkel's conservative CDU party has lost its leading position to the Green Party in several states.

Germany’s most populous state to hold new elections as govt stumbles over budget, Washington Post (2012)

This news article says that Germany’s most populous state will hold early elections after its minority government narrowly failed to get a budget passed Wednesday — a prospect that could boost the country’s center-left opposition. All 181 members of the state legislature in North Rhine-Westphalia voted to dissolve it. That means a new regional election must be held within 60 days, although no date was immediately set.