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Olaf Scholz fist pumps Angela Merkel as she leaves the Chancellery in Berlin

Scholz vows 'new beginning' for Germany as Merkel exits

Social Democrat Olaf Scholz has been elected by the German parliament as chancellor, ending 16 years of conservative rule under Angela Merkel.

Europe • 08 Dec 21

FDP delegates applaud after the party voted in favor of the coalition

Germany's Free Democrats back coalition agreement

Members of Germany's Free Democrats have voted by a large majority to back a coalition agreement with the Social Democrats and Greens, paving the way for the three-way alliance to form a new government next week.

World • 05 Dec 21

Angela Merkel holds a red rose at the conclusion of her military tattoo ceremony

Punkrocker hit among Merkel's picks for farewell parade

With a hit by the "godmother of punk" Nina Hagen, Germany's military saluted a visibly moved Angela Merkel during a ceremonial farewell today, just a week before she is due to bow out of politics after 16 years in office.

Europe • 02 Dec 21

Outgoing German Chancellor Angela Merkel

Merkel's Legacy

After 16 years in office, Angela Merkel is stepping down from her role as German Chancellor.

Business • 01 Oct 21

Olaf Scholz (centre on stage) gives a media briefing along with party colleagues in Berlin today

German SPD seeks three-way alliance to succeed Merkel

German Social Democrat Olaf Scholz has vowed to strengthen the European Union and keep up the transatlantic partnership in a three-way coalition government he hopes to form by Christmas to take over from Angela Merkel's conservatives.

Europe • 27 Sep 21

Deposits of German households and companies at banks in Switzerland climbed almost $5 billion to $37.5 billion in the first quarter of 2021

German millionaires rush assets to Switzerland

A potential lurch to the left in Germany's election on Sunday is scaring millionaires into moving assets into Switzerland, bankers and tax lawyers say.

Business • 24 Sep 21

Enda Kenny said Angela Merkel was supportive of Ireland as a country that was an example to others

Merkel can look back at her career with pride - Kenny

Former taoiseach Enda Kenny has paid tribute to German Chancellor Angela Merkel for her role in defending Ireland's position following the Brexit referendum.

World • 25 Sep 21

Angela Merkel is the first chancellor not to seek re-election since 1949

Germany readies for election that will end Merkel era

Germany goes to the polls on Sunday in an election that will see Angela Merkel step down after 16 years in power, sparking a knife-edge race to lead Europe's biggest economy.

World • 23 Sep 21

Olaf Scholz pictured as he left the committee meeting

German MPs quiz finance minister over fraud inquiry

German MPs have questioned Finance Minister Olaf Scholz, the frontrunner to succeed Angela Merkel in national elections this weekend, over a high-stakes money-laundering probe that could shake up the race.

World • 20 Sep 21

Angela Merkel gave her last government declaration in the German parliament today

Merkel prepares to bow out amid tributes and crises

Europe is preparing to say goodbye to German Chancellor Angela Merkel who is retiring from politics this autumn.

Europe • 24 Jun 21

Emmanuel Macron held a virtual meeting with German Chancellor Angela Merkel today

Macron: Reports of US spying on Europe 'not acceptable'

French President Emmanuel Macron has said that wire tapping allies is unacceptable after reports that the US National Security Agency had spied on European partners with Denmark's assistance.

World • 31 May 21

Angela Merkel has been in office for nearly 16 years

German conservatives mull Merkel succession

With less than six months to go until a general election and their poll ratings plummeting, Angela Merkel's conservatives are meeting for crunch talks today as pressure builds to pick their chancellor candidate.

World • 11 Apr 21

Armin Laschet is a close ally of Chancellor Angela Merkel

Merkel ally Laschet elected Germany's CDU party leader

Moderate Armin Laschet has been elected as the head of Germany's conservative CDU party.

Europe • 16 Jan 21

'Stop Globalisation Politics' is seen written on the side of the car

Car crashes into gate at German Chancellor's office

German police said they have detained a man who drove a car into the gate of the German chancellery in central Berlin, in what appeared to be a protest.

World • 25 Nov 20

The Kremlin critic was rushed into intensive care on Thursday after he fell ill during a Moscow-bound flight

EU calls for 'independent' probe into Navalny case

The European Union's diplomatic chief Josep Borrell has called on the Russian authorities to launch an "independent and transparent investigation" into the apparent poisoning of Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny.

World • 24 Aug 20

Angela Merkel says a Brexit deal may never be reached

EU must prepare for possibility of no Brexit deal

The European Union must prepare for the possibility that talks for a deal with the UK over their future relationship could fail, German Chancellor Angela Merkel has said.

Brexit • 01 Jul 20

Germany embraces masks as restrictions ease

Germany has made wearing masks on public transport and in most shops mandatory, as the country became the latest to cover up in the fight against the coronavirus.

News • 27 Apr 20

German Chancellor Angela Merkel continues to work remotely

Merkel tests negative for coronavirus

Angela Merkel's initial test for coronavirus has returned a negative result, but the German leader's spokesman, Steffen Seibert, told news agency Deutsche Presse-Agentur that "further tests will be conducted in the coming days".

Coronavirus • 24 Mar 20

Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer and German Chancellor Angela Merkel

Merkel's 'heir' quits CDU role over AfD voting row

German Chancellor Angela Merkel's party and her plans to stay on until 2021 were plunged into disarray, after her heir-apparent gave up her leadership ambitions in a deepening crisis over ties between the centre and far-right.

World • 10 Feb 20

Germany's current account surplus - which measures the flow of goods, services and investments - is estimated to have reached $293 billion in 2019

Germany running world's largest current account surplus

Germany's current account surplus remained the world's largest last year despite trade tensions, the Ifo economic institute will say today, in an estimate likely to renew criticism of Chancellor Angela Merkel's fiscal policies.

Business • 03 Feb 20

Angela Merkel began the visit by walking through a gate bearing the chilling Nazi message 'Arbeit macht frei'

Merkel becomes third German leader to visit Auschwitz

Germany's Angela Merkel is visiting the former Nazi death camp at Auschwitz for the first time in her 14 years as chancellor, as Germany grapples with a resurgence of anti-Semitism and the growth of the far-right.

News Lens • 09 Dec 19

Hell or high water: Fish talks will be most bruising

Every Monday from early September a French fisheries official would ring the police prefects all along the northeastern French seaboard.

Brexit • 16 Nov 19

After marathon overnight talks, the German government reached a €100bn deal on a broad climate plan

Germany to spend €100bn on climate plan

Chancellor Angela Merkel's government has reached a deal on a broad climate plan for Germany that commits at least €100bn by 2030 to environmental protection, as tens of thousands of protesters rallied demanding action.

World • 20 Sep 19

Chancellor Merkel arrived in China yesterday

Hong Kong freedoms must be 'guaranteed' - Merkel

German Chancellor Angela Merkel has said the rights and freedoms of people in Hong Kong "must be guaranteed" after meeting with Chinese Premier Li Keqiang in Beijing, her spokesman said.

World • 06 Sep 19

A Volkswagen plant in Wolfsburg, Germany

German manufacturing suffering from slowdown - report

Germany's manufacturing industry and exports are suffering from a slowing global economy, the finance ministry said in its monthly report.

Business • 22 Jul 19