Interview with AFP on Merkel and the fallout from the Berlin election

A friendly chat with AFP became part of their story on the fallout from the Berlin election. Incidentally, the text was widely cross-published in Asia, and so I’m becoming a household name in Vietnam, China, and Pakistan 🙂 [contentcards url="https://www.yahoo.com/news/merkel-party-loses-ground-populist-afd-gains-berlin-161629578.html"]

Refugees: A fresh rift in Germany’s governing coalition?

On Friday, a day after the great refugee compromise between CDU, CSU, SPD, and the minister presidents was announced, Home Affairs minister Thomas de Maiziere created a medium-sized stir by presenting plans that would reduce the level of protection granted to refugees from Syria. None such measure had been agreed the day before. By Saturday,…

Is there potential for anti-refugee left-wing populism in Germany?

In the last couple of weeks, much has been said and written about the turning tide in German public opinion on refugees, the growing rift between Merkel and the CSU, the potential of a back-bench rebellion against the chancellor and party leader etc. But one of the most interesting (in my book) details is buried…

What Happens If No One Wants to Govern with Merkel? Are We All Belgians Now?

In Germany, people begin to realise that Merkel may have painted herself into a corner by winning so gloriously. While her Christian Democrats are by far the largest party group in the new Bundestag, she needs a coalition partner, but nobody wants to play. Merkel may have painted herself into a corner by winning so gloriously. This could still end in new elections or a minority government