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The hour-long conversation marked the return of diplomacy to the decade-long conflict, even if their talk brought the familiar refrain it was not yet time to talk. One Western official said there was an “overall collective holding of breath” in Western capitals ahead of Trump’s inauguration. “The Germans speaking to Putin – that will have gone down badly” among Ukraine’s allies, the official said. “Giving Putin that positive bounce will have irked the French and others.” French President Emmanuel Macron has been particularly vocal about continuing support for Ukraine. Kremlin critics also warn of its history of using diplomacy as a pause or foil to pursuing its military goals.

Persons: Olaf Scholz, Vladimir Putin, Volodymyr Zelensky, acceding, Zelensky, ”, Putin, Donald Trump, Trump, Scholz, “, Putin –, Emmanuel Macron, Donald Tusk, Biden, “ Scholz, Alena Epifanova, Epifanova, Scholz’s, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Ebrahim Noroozi, Mike Waltz, “ ‘, ‘, ’ ” Trump, Kurt Volker, Trump’s, it’s, Oleksandr Gimanov, Volker, he’s, ’ ” Volker, Trump “, ” Volker, Sen, Marco Rubio, Kim Jong Un, elect’s, Putin won’t, “ He’s Organizations: CNN, White, Sunday, Trump, German, Foreign Relations, Schloss, Reuters, Ukraine, Economist, Getty, Biden Locations: Ukraine, Russia, Russian, Europe, Polish, Moscow, Schloss Bellevue, Berlin, Ukrainian, European, Trump’s Ukraine, Odesa, AFP, “, Afghanistan, China, United States, Beijing, US, Kyiv

☆ Germany's Scholz discusses Ukraine with Russia's Putin in first such call in 2 years
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-15 | by ( The Associated Press | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +4 min

BERLIN — German Chancellor Olaf Scholz spoke Friday with Russian President Vladimir Putin, the Kremlin leader’s first publicly announced conversation with the sitting head of a major Western power in nearly two years. Scholz urged Putin to be open to negotiations with Ukraine, his office said. Government spokesman Steffen Hebestreit said Scholz urged Putin in the hour-long call to withdraw his troops and end the full-scale invasion launched in February 2022. The new communication between Scholz and Putin — their first since December 2022 — comes at a time of widespread speculation about what the new administration of President-elect Donald Trump will mean for Ukraine. The U.S., South Korea and Ukraine say North Korea has sent thousands of troops to Russia to support its war against Ukraine.

Persons: Olaf Scholz, Vladimir Putin, Scholz, Putin, Steffen Hebestreit, Alexei Navalny’s, Yulia, “, ” Hebestreit, —, Donald Trump, Trump, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, ” Zelenskyy, ” Scholz, ” Putin, Dmitry Peskov Organizations: Kremlin leader’s, Kyiv, NATO, Ukraine, Kremlin, Russian Federation Locations: BERLIN, Ukraine, Russian, Berlin, Russia, Washington, Moscow, U.S, South Korea, North Korea, Germany, ”, East

☆ Germany’s Scholz calls Putin, ending Western isolation over Ukraine
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-15 | by ( ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

The conversation on Friday was the first time Scholz had spoken with Putin in two years. It comes as the German leader gears up for a snap election and Europe waits to hear US President-elect Donald Trump’s plan for ending the war in Ukraine. “He stressed Germany’s unbroken determination to back Ukraine in its defense against Russian aggression for as long as necessary,” the spokesperson added. Ukraine said however that phone conversations with Putin brought no added value on the path to achieving a “just peace” in Ukraine. But of course, (it is a) question about how Russia spins it.”Scholz to brief alliesThe Kremlin said Putin had told Scholz Russia was willing to look at energy deals if Germany was interested.

Persons: Volodymyr Zelensky, Vladimir Putin, Putin, ” Zelensky, Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s, Scholz, Donald Trump’s, Zelensky, “, ”, Trump, ” Scholz, Scholz Russia Organizations: Berlin Reuters, Kremlin, Reuters, Scholz’s Social, Ukraine, Kyiv, European Union, NATO, Ukrainian Locations: Ukraine, Kyiv, Russia, Berlin, Germany, Baltic, North Korea, Russia’s, Kursk, United States

☆ Germany set for snap election in February, according to German public broadcaster
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-12 | by ( Sebastian Shukla | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Germany is set to hold a snap election on February 23 after an agreement was reached among parties in the country’s fractured parliament on Tuesday, according to reports from public broadcaster ARD. The confidence vote will be held on December 16 following an agreement from all parliamentary parties, according to ARD. German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier needs to rubber-stamp the date of the election, but reports suggest this is a formality. Friedrich Merz, leader of the CDU, said last week, “there is absolutely no reason to wait until January” to call the confidence vote. His government has grown increasingly unpopular in Germany, with Scholz also one of the least popular chancellors ever, according to a September opinion poll.

Persons: Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Scholz, Frank, Walter Steinmeier, Steinmeier, Christian Lindner, Friedrich Merz, ” Organizations: CNN, ARD, Green Party, Christian Democratic Union of Germany, CDU, German, Greens Locations: Germany, Berlin

The three remaining ministers of the Free Democrats resigned in response, leading to the downfall of the government coalition. Scholz is expected to lead the country with a minority government, but the opposition is calling for an immediate no-confidence vote. Tobias Schwarz / AFP - Getty Images fileScholz’s left-leaning Social Democrats will now effectively lead a minority government with the remaining coalition partner, the environmentalist Greens. Lindner’s pro-business Free Democrats had rejected tax increases or changes to Germany’s strict self-imposed limits on running up debt. Scholz’s Social Democrats and the Greens wanted to see major state investment and rejected the Free Democrats’ proposals to cut welfare programs.

Persons: Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Christian Lindner, Scholz, Volker Wissing, Lindner, Frank, Walter Steinmeier, ” Scholz, Olaf Scholz, Tobias Schwarz, Friedrich Merz, Merz, “, ”, ” Merz, Achim Wambach, Donald Trump Organizations: Free Democrats, German Finance, AFP, Getty, Social Democrats, Greens, Christian Democrats, German Bundestag, Scholz’s Social Democrats, Leibniz Center for European Economic Research Locations: Berlin, German, Germany, “, Europe

CNN —Germany’s governing coalition has collapsed after disagreements over the country’s weak economy led Chancellor Olaf Scholz to sack his finance minister. The coalition has been at loggerheads over how to revive Germany’s economy. What problems is Germany’s economy facing? Germany’s economy, Europe’s largest, shrank last year for the first time since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic. Party leader Alice Weidel has already hailed the coalition’s collapse as a “liberation” for Germany.

Persons: Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Christian Lindner’s, Scholz, Donald Trump, Europe’s, Angela Merkel, Gerhard Schröder, Merkel, Christian Lindner, Christoph Soeder, Friedrich Merz, Lindner, Liesa Johannssen, “ Lindner, ” Lindner, ”, Carsten Brzeski, “, Robert Habeck, Annegret Hilse, Merz, Alice Weidel, ” Weidel Organizations: CNN, Free Democrats Party, Scholz’s Social Democratic Party, SPD, Green Party, CDU, Trump, Social Democratic Party, Greens, ING, Volkswagen, CDU –, Christian Democratic Union, Party Locations: Germany, Germany’s, Nazi, Thuringia, France, Italy, Ukraine, China, ”

☆ Europe’s centrists are flocking to the right on migration, as a far right surge and a border crisis spooks the continent
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-20 | by ( Rob Picheta | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

Increasingly, Europe’s centrist figureheads are dropping their once-high-minded rhetoric on irregular migration, reaching instead for positions that were previously the preserve of the continent’s populist rabble-rousers. In Poland, like in much of Europe, “voters across the board expect that border security and migration controls are the priority,” Kucharczyk said. But Thursday’s victory for Tusk in Brussels underscores a broader, rightward shift across Europe on the issue of irregular migration. “It’s an existential issue for this coalition, and they don’t want to take chances on issues like migration,” Kucharczyk said. The wider question is whether the longstanding principles of the border-free Schengen Area can survive an enduring era of rising migration and populist subversion.

Persons: Donald Tusk, ” Tusk, Spain’s Pedro Sanchez –, Tusk, ” Jacek Kucharczyk, Emmanuel Macron, Germany’s, Olaf Scholz, ” Kucharczyk, ”, Adnan Beci, Ursula von der Leyen, Chancellor Scholz, Keir Starmer –, –, Scholz, Thomas Niedermueller, Italy’s, Giorgia Meloni, “, Marta Welander, PiS, Poland’s, Kucharczyk Organizations: CNN, European Union Council, of Public Affairs, Wednesday, Getty, European Commission, EU, Committee, Law and Justice, SPD, ISIS, – Locations: Brussels, Poland, EU, Belarus, Europe, Russia, Albania, Warsaw, AFP, EU’s, France, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Solingen, Hungary, Slovakia

BERLIN — President Joe Biden is leaving Washington for Germany on Thursday morning in what will be one of the last opportunities to outline his vision for foreign policy before the election next month. After landing in Berlin, Biden will be greeted with full military honors Friday before receiving the country's highest Order of Merit from President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, his office said. After years of refusing U.S. prodding to trade the Russian, Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris separately convinced Scholz earlier this year. On Wednesday, Biden announced a $425 million aid package for Ukraine that includes air-to-ground munitions and armored vehicles, and promised more defense systems and supplies in the months to come. The White House said Biden will now travel to Angola in early December.

Persons: Joe Biden, Biden, Frank, Walter Steinmeier, ”, Olaf Scholz, Scholz, Evan Gershkovich, Marine Paul Whelan, Kamala Harris, Hurricane Milton Organizations: BERLIN, Merit, Marine, White, Ukraine, Russia, Wednesday Locations: Washington, Germany, Berlin, U.S, Russia, Russian, France, Britain, Ukraine, Angola, Hurricane

☆ German voters fend off far-right in latest state vote, early results suggest
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-23 | by ( Https | Media-Cldnry.S-Nbcnews.Com Image Upload Newscms | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +4 min

“Dietmar Woidke and his Brandenburg SPD have made a furious comeback in recent weeks,” said SPD General Secretary Kevin Kuehnert. “For us in the federal SPD, this evening, if things go well, the problems that lie ahead of us will not have gotten any bigger. SPD party members and supporters react during the publication of exit polls in Potsdam. Provisional official results suggested it had gained 5.7 percentage points since the last Brandenburg election in 2019. With the Greens failing to re-enter Brandenburg state parliament, Woidke’s SPD cannot continue its coalition with the CDU and Greens.

Persons: Olaf Scholz’s, Scholz, “, ” Scholz, Dietmar Woidke, “ Dietmar Woidke, ”, Kevin Kuehnert, Tobias Schwarz, Woidke, Tino Chrupalla, Sahra Wagenknecht Organizations: Olaf Scholz’s Social Democrats, SPD, State, Politico, United Nations, Brandenburg SPD, ARD, ZDF, Communist, Getty, Provisional, Greens, Free Democrats, CDU Locations: Brandenburg, Germany, Berlin, New York, Ukraine, Potsdam, Russia, Thuringia, Saxony, Europe

☆ Far-right group that invokes Nazi past on track for more state election success in Germany
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-22 | by ( Https | Media-Cldnry.S-Nbcnews.Com Image Upload Newscms | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +3 min

The AfD became the first far-right party to win a state election in Germany since World War II, in Thuringia, on Sept. 1 and just missed first place in Saxony. Hans-Christoph Berndt, the AfD candidate for Brandenburg state premier, cast his ballot on Sunday in the town of Golssen, south of Berlin, expressing optimism about his party’s prospects with increased support compared to 2019. Narrow the gapIn recent weeks, the SPD has managed to narrow the gap with the AfD, opinion polls have shown. AfD party leader Tino Chrupalla said Scholz should do the same. “It is high time this government suffer the consequences after this state election,” Chrupalla said.

Persons: Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s, Hans, Christoph Berndt, we've, ” Berndt, won’t, Scholz, Brandenburg’s, Dietmar Woidke, Woidke, pollster Forschungsgruppe Wahlen, ” Woidke, Tino Chrupalla, ” Chrupalla Organizations: Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s Social Democrats, Communist, Brandenburg, Social Democrats, SPD, Sahra Wagenknecht, Scholz’s, Free Democrats, Greens Locations: German, Brandenburg, Germany, Thuringia, Saxony, Europe, Ukraine, Scholz’s, Golssen, Berlin, Potsdam

☆ Exit polls suggest reprieve for Germany’s Scholz, as his party looks set to fend off far right in state vote
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-22 | by ( ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

BERLIN Reuters —German Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s Social Democrats (SPD) looked set to fend off the far right in a state election in Brandenburg on Sunday after trailing behind the Alternative for Germany (AfD) throughout the campaign, exit polls indicated. “Dietmar Woidke and his Brandenburg SPD have made a furious comeback in recent weeks,” said SPD party general secretary Kevin Kuehnert. “For us in the federal SPD, this evening, if things go well, the problems that lie ahead of us will not have gotten any bigger. The SPD is polling just 15% at national level, down from the 25.7% it scored in the 2021 federal election. Maryam Majd/Getty Images/FileNo time for complacencyThe vote in Brandenburg comes three weeks after the Russia-friendly AfD became the first far-right party to top a state election in Germany since World War Two, in Thuringia.

Persons: Olaf Scholz’s, Scholz, Dietmar Woidke, “ Dietmar Woidke, ”, Kevin Kuehnert, Olaf Scholz, Maryam Majd, Woidke, Tino Chrupalla, Sahra Wagenknecht Organizations: BERLIN Reuters —, Olaf Scholz’s Social Democrats, SPD, ZDF, Brandenburg SPD, ARD, Communist, Greens, Free Democrats Locations: Brandenburg, Germany, Berlin, Ukraine, Russia, Thuringia, Saxony, Europe

These are now the new realities on all of Germany’s land borders. On September 16, Berlin ordered the “temporary reintroduction of border control” at Germany’s borders with Belgium, Holland, Luxembourg, France and Denmark. The calls for more checks on Germany’s borders also mark a step-change at the heart of the European Union from Merkel’s policies. In 2015, the long-serving, and ever popular former German chancellor Merkel opened Germany’s borders to migrants fleeing their homes - at the time largely Syrians because of the country’s civil war. The moves by Merkel became known as Wilkommenskulturand and set Germany apart on the world stage in liberal migration policy.

Persons: ” Slubice, “, Tom Knie, Olaf Scholz, ” –, Angela Merkel, Patrick Pleul, Bjoern Hoecke, ”, Victory, Alice Weidel, Scholz, …, ” Raphael Bossong, Merkel, Maja Hitij, Knaus, ” Knaus Organizations: CNN, German Federal, European Union, Getty, German Institute of International and Security Affairs, Scholz’s Social Democratic Party, Police, “ Locations: Frankfurt, der, “ Frankfurt, ”, Polish, German Federal Republic, Poland, Germany, Berlin, Germany’s, Belgium, Holland, Luxembourg, France, Denmark, Austria, Czech Republic, Switzerland, Oder, Manheim, Solingen, Thuringia, East, Saxony, Brandenburg, “ Germany

☆ Germany opens its doors to 250,000 Kenyan workers in controlled migration deal
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-14 | by ( Sophie Tanno | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Germany has struck a controlled migration deal with Kenya, which will see Berlin open its doors to skilled and semi-skilled Kenyan workers. The deal was signed by German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Kenya’s president William Ruto on Friday. Migration is a major flashpoint in Germany, and has fueled the rise of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party. As well as deterring irregular migration, the deal is intended to address labor market needs in both countries, providing opportunities for Kenyan workers while supplementing an ageing Gemany’s shortage of skilled laborers. According to the German government, there are currently around 14,800 Kenyan citizens living in Germany.

Persons: Olaf Scholz, William Ruto, Ruto, Nancy Faeser, ”, “ Organizations: CNN, German, Ministry, ISIS Locations: Germany, Kenya, Berlin, Solingen

☆ Germany Promised to Step Up Militarily. Its Budget Says Differently.
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-18 | by ( Christopher F. Schuetze | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Two-and-a-half years after Chancellor Olaf Scholz vowed to overhaul Germany’s military, his government’s proposed budget for 2025 calls for only a modest increase in defense spending. The draft budget was deeply disappointing to those looking for signs that Germany would live up to Mr. Scholz’s promise of a “Zeitenwende,” defined by the chancellor himself as an “epochal tectonic shift” in strategy, which he announced with great fanfare in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. With the war in Ukraine grinding on, Russia continuing to saber-rattle and Donald J. Trump gaining momentum for a return to the White House, Germany has been under increasing pressure from its allies to step into a more robust security role. To live up to that pledge, Boris Pistorius, Germany’s defense minister, had asked for an increase of 6.7 billion, or $7.3 billion, over the 52 billion euros, or nearly $57 billion, in this year’s budget. The shortfall deepened concerns that Mr. Scholz’s unpopular government lacks the will or political backing to push Germans to overcome their historical reluctance to take the lead militarily since the calamity of World War II.

Persons: Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Scholz’s, Donald J, Boris Pistorius Organizations: Trump, White Locations: Germany, Ukraine, Russia

☆ In Germany, Far-Right Party Rises to 2nd Place in E.U. Election
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-10 | by ( Sarah Maslin Nir | Christopher F. Schuetze | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The right-wing Alternative for Germany party won a record number of votes in European Union elections on Sunday, in a sharp rebuke to Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s governing three-party coalition in Germany and a sign of the rightward political shift across the continent. The party, known as AfD, captured 16 percent of the vote, placing second behind Germany’s conservative Christian Democrats, which won 30 percent. It was AfD’s strongest showing in a nationwide election, and it came as Mr. Scholz’s coalition has reached record-low levels of popularity in the country, according to polls. A spokesman for Mr. Scholz has ruled out early elections. Describing her party’s showing a “major success,” Ms. Weidel said at a news conference in Berlin that the government was working against, not for, Germany.

Persons: Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s, Scholz’s, Alice Weidel, Mr, Scholz, Emmanuel Macron, ” Ms, Weidel, ” Organizations: Germany, Christian Democrats, “ Locations: Germany, France, Berlin

☆ Berlin senator attacked in library amid spate of violence against German politicians
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-08 | by ( Stephanie Halasz | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —A Berlin senator was attacked while visiting a library on Tuesday, amid what appears to be an increasing trend of violence against politicians in Germany. Franziska Giffey, Berlin senator for economy, was hit over the head with a bag containing hard material as she visited the library in her district in the German capital Tuesday afternoon, the Berlin prosecutor’s office said in a statement. Giffey, a former Berlin mayor, described the moment of the attack on Instagram, saying “I suddenly felt a hard blow to my head and neck from behind. The Green party in Saxony wrote on X that its members would continue campaigning, and would not be intimidated. It also said it would support a draft law to increase legislation around protection against attacks on politicians.

Persons: Franziska Giffey, “, Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s, Giffey, ” Scholz, Ursula von der Leyen, ” Organizations: CNN, Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s Social Democratic Party, SPD, Green Locations: Berlin, Germany, Dresden, Saxony

☆ Germany’s Leader Walks a Fine Line in China
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-16 | by ( Alexandra Stevenson | Melissa Eddy | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Chancellor Olaf Scholz of Germany tried to strike a delicate balance on a trip to China this week, promoting business ties with his country’s biggest trading partner while criticizing its surge of exports to Europe and its support for Russia. Mr. Scholz met with China’s top leader, Xi Jinping, at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing on Tuesday, the culmination of a three-day visit with a delegation of German officials and business leaders. Throughout his trip, Mr. Scholz promoted the interests of German companies that are finding it increasingly hard to compete in China. And he conveyed growing concern in the European Union that the region’s market is becoming a dumping ground for Chinese goods produced at a loss. It was Mr. Scholz’s first visit to China since his government adopted a strategy last year that defined the Asian power as a “partner, competitor and systemic rival,” calling on Germany to reduce its dependency on Chinese goods.

Persons: Olaf Scholz, Germany, Scholz, Xi Jinping, Li Qiang, Scholz’s Organizations: European Union Locations: China, Europe, Russia, Diaoyutai, Beijing, Ukraine, United States, European, Germany

☆ Now It’s Germany’s Turn to Frustrate Allies Over Ukraine
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-04 | by ( David E. Sanger | Christopher F. Schuetze | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

First it was France’s president, Emmanuel Macron, who angered his NATO allies by suggesting that soon the West could be forced to send troops to Ukraine, portending a direct confrontation with Russian forces that the rest of the alliance has long rejected. Then Chancellor Olaf Scholz of Germany took his own turn exposing new divisions. Trying to justify why Germany was withholding its most powerful missile, the Taurus, from Ukrainian hands, he hinted that Britain, France and the United States may secretly be helping Ukraine target similar weapons, a step he said Germany simply could not take. While neither Britain or France has commented officially — they almost never discuss how their weapons are deployed — Mr. Scholz was immediately accused by former officials of revealing war secrets. “Scholz’s behavior has showed that as far as the security of Europe goes he is the wrong man in the wrong job at the wrong time,” Ben Wallace, Britain’s former defense minister, told The Evening Standard, a London daily.

Persons: Emmanuel Macron, portending, Olaf Scholz, Germany, Scholz, ” Ben Wallace, Tobias Ellwood, Vladimir V, Putin Organizations: NATO, Russian, Conservative Locations: Ukraine, Germany, Britain, France, United States, Europe, London, Washington

☆ Farmers’ protests have erupted across Europe. Here’s why
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-03 | by ( Sophie Tanno | Chris Liakos | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

This week, the farmers’ protests struck at the heart of the European Union, when they rolled into Brussels on Thursday as leaders held a major summit on Ukraine. The EU has waived quotas and duties on Ukrainian imports in light of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. “In Germany, it was really focused on diesel, so starting to tax diesel for tractors. France this week announced a series of measures for farmers in light of the protests. This has already been seen in Germany, when the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) involved itself in the protests and expressed solidarity with the farmers.

Persons: ”, Sebastien Bozon, Kay Nietfeld, Hugo Auge, Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s, Dimitar Dilkoff, Emmanuel Mathé, “, we’re, Anger, Renaud Foucart, Sakis Mitrolidis, Stefano Guidi, Gabriel Attal, Attal, Ursula von Der Leyen, Rob Engelaar Organizations: CNN — Farmers, CNN, European Union, Toulouse, BFMTV, Getty Images Farmers, AP, Farmers, Getty, ” Farmers, EU, Lancaster University, Deal, Green, European Commission, French, Farmer, Citizen Locations: Europe, Paris, France, Italy, Spain, Romania, Poland, Greece, Germany, Portugal, Netherlands, Eastern Europe, EU, Brussels, Ukraine, Zandvliet, Meer, Lyon, Vesoul, AFP, Berlin, Thessaloniki, Spanish, Hamburg, Cologne, Bremen, Nuremberg, Munich, Eastern, Bulgaria, Yvelines, French, Noisy, Seine et Marne, England, Novara, Belgium, Arendonk, Dutch

Now, many are warning that the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party is capitalizing on the chaos for its own political gain. Sean Gallup/Getty ImagesA tractor displays a banner with the logo of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party that reads: "Germany needs new elections!" “Supporting democratic protests like this against traffic light madness will continue to be a concern of our hearts,” one post reads. The traffic light will soon be standing all alone.”The “traffic light” is a reference to Scholz’s coalition government – an allusion to the colors of the Social Democratic Party (SPD), the Free Democratic Party (FDP) and the Greens it is comprised of. Far-right coup fantasiesGerman ministers and a domestic intelligence chief have warned how right-wing extremists could try to exploit the farmers’ protests.

Persons: Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s, Kirill Kudryavtsev, Sean Gallup, Martin, ” Steven, Björn Höcke, Scholz, Johannes Kiess, ” Kiess, Jens Schlueter, Kiess, Robert Habeck, ” “, ” Habeck, Kay Nietfeld, Stephan Kramer, –, ” Kramer, ”, Nadine Schmidt, Claudia Otto, Sophie Tanno Organizations: Germany CNN — Farmers, Farmers, Getty, Social Democratic Party, SPD, Free Democratic Party, Greens, Germany’s Office, Homeland, Deutsche, University of Leipzig, CNN, “, Ukraine, Tractors, CDU, CSU, Christian Democratic Union, Christian Social Locations: Berlin, Germany, Frankfurt, AFP, Brandenburg, Hamburg, Cologne, Bremen, Nuremberg, Munich, Rügen, Pomerania, Thuringia, Berlin ., Dresden, Saxony, Deutsche Bahn, Cottbus, Torgau, London

☆ Germany to Override Debt Limit, Again, to Resolve Budget Crisis
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-28 | by ( Melissa Eddy | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Chancellor Olaf Scholz urged lawmakers on Tuesday to override Germany’s borrowing limits for a fourth consecutive year, allowing his government to take on billions of euros in fresh debt to modernize his country’s economy despite a budget crisis triggered a constitutional court ruling. “It would be a grave, unforgivable mistake to neglect the modernization of our country in the face of all these acute challenges,” Mr. Scholz told Parliament, citing persistently high energy prices and the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East. Afterward, a powerful leader of the opposition Christian Democrats signaled he may be wiling to accept Mr. Scholz’s plan, a sign that the fiscal crisis that has gripped Germany for two weeks and threatened to fracture the government’s three-party coalition may begin to ease. Germany’s highest court on Nov. 15 threw out a special fund set up by the government that shifted credits approved in 2020 to combat the coronavirus pandemic to instead finance environmental projects and green technology. The court ruled that credits taken out in a given year for a specific purpose had to be spent within that time, and for the designated purpose.

Persons: Olaf Scholz, ” Mr, Scholz, Scholz’s Organizations: Democrats Locations: Ukraine, Germany

Europe's largest economy shrank 0.1% in the July-to-September quarter as inflation eroded people's willingness to spend, Germany's statistics office confirmed Friday. The downbeat figures come as the country's budget crisis raises the possibility of deep spending cuts next year. A court ruled last week that previous spending violated constitutional limits on deficits, forcing Chancellor Olaf Scholz's government to put off a final vote on next year's spending plan. The court said the move violated rules in the constitution that limit new borrowing to 0.35% of annual economic output. He termed the uptick in the Ifo survey of business managers as “a bottoming out” rather than a rebound.

Persons: Chancellor Olaf Scholz's, quarrelsome, Christian Lindner, ”, Carsten Brzeski, Brzeski Organizations: International Monetary Fund, Finance, ING Locations: FRANKFURT, Germany, Russia, Ukraine

☆ Germany Announces Special Budget to Avert Crisis
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-23 | by ( Melissa Eddy | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

How We Got Here: A court ruling put spending plans into disarray. The move came after days of uncertainty triggered by the ruling from the country’s highest court that declared elements of the 2023 budget invalid because of a rule that limits borrowing. Mr. Lindner, who leads the fiscally conservative Free Democrats party, has vowed to abide by the borrowing limits for the 2023 budget. “No new debt will be taken on, but the funds already used to overcome the crisis will be placed on a secure legal basis,” Mr. Lindner said in a statement on Thursday. Economists and business leaders, as well as some lawmakers from Mr. Scholz’s three-party coalition, demanded Mr. Lindner take action to clarify spending plans for 2023 to ensure stability and clear the way for lawmakers to approve a budget for 2024.

Persons: Lindner, Mr, Olaf Scholz, Scholz’s Organizations: Free Democrats Locations: Ukraine

☆ EU fiscal pact ignores green elephant in the room
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-21 | by ( Lisa Jucca | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +8 min

REUTERS/Henry Nicholls Acquire Licensing RightsMILAN, Nov 21 (Reuters Breakingviews) - The European Union’s troubled fiscal pact, once branded as "stupid" by former European Commission President Romano Prodi, has reached its sell-by date. Average EU debt has been consistently above the 60% target. NEW COURSEThe proposed revamp of the fiscal pact, now under discussion, is an improvement. BRAVE NEW DEBT WORLDFor all of Brussels’ reforming zeal, Europe’s future debt rules ignore a giant elephant in the room: climate change. Another option is to remove green investments from the fiscal rules’ deficit calculations.

Persons: Henry Nicholls, Romano Prodi, Christian Lindner, Giorgia Meloni, Breakingviews, Bruno Le Maire, Olaf Scholz’s, Mario Draghi, Francesco Guerrera, Thomas Shum Organizations: Trust, REUTERS, Reuters, European, Reuters Graphics Reuters, European Commission, French Finance, EU, Intel, European Central Bank, Italian, Union, Thomson Locations: Green Park, London, Britain, Maastricht Treaty, Germany, it's, Italy, Greece, Brussels, EU, United States, Spain, Europe

From construction to health care and the high-tech experts needed for the EU green transition, the local talent pool in the bloc of 450 million people has increasingly proved insufficient. And instead of forcing talent from across the globe to seek entry into the lucrative EU labor market via the illegal and dangerous migration route where the EU is increasingly restrictive, Wednesday's plans call for a safe and legal way. “This package is also a strong, if not strongest, disincentive to irregular migration,” said EU Commission Vice-President Margaritis Schinas. The plans will now be assessed by the 27 member states and the EU's parliament before they can be turned into reality. Economically too, the urgency is there, and EU businesses realize they are facing competitors across the globe.

Persons: ”, Margaritis Schinas, ” Schinas, Chancellor OIaf Scholz’s, Schinas Organizations: European Union, EU Locations: BRUSSELS, EU, Netherlands, Europe, United States, Canada, New Zealand, Australia, Germany

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