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☆ Germany's Scholz urges Putin in phone call to open talks with Ukraine
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-15 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD, r) and Russian President Vladimir Putin look up after several hours of one-on-one talks at a joint press conference. Scholz met the Russian president for talks on the situation on the Ukrainian-Russian border. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz urged Russian President Vladimir Putin in a rare phone call on Friday to begin talks with Ukraine that would open the way for a "just and lasting peace." In a one-hour phone conversation, their first in almost two years, Scholz also demanded the withdrawal of Russian troops from Ukraine and reaffirmed Germany's continued support for Ukraine, a German government spokesman said. "He stressed Germany's unbroken determination to back Ukraine in its defence against Russian aggression for as long as necessary," the spokesperson added.

Persons: Olaf Scholz, Vladimir Putin, Scholz, Germany's, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Putin, Donald Trump's, Trump Organizations: Ukraine, U.S, Social Democrats Locations: Russian, Ukraine, Russia, Germany, United States

☆ 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

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

☆ Germany appoints new finance minister as pressure for quick snap elections mounts
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-07 | by ( Sophie Kiderlin | In | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Olaf Scholz, Germany's chancellor, right, speaks with aide Joerg Kukies at the COP27 climate conference at the Sharm El Sheikh International Convention Centre in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, on Monday, Nov. 7, 2022. Jörg Kukies was appointed as Germany's new finance minister on Thursday, as pressure mounts on Chancellor Olaf Scholz to call for a confidence vote and trigger snap elections after the dissolution of his ruling three-way coalition. Kukies replaces Christian Lindner, whom Scholz sacked on late Wednesday, citing the need to protect Germany from economic damage. Germany's Minister for Digital and Transport Volker Wissing — who was also a party member — said in a statement to the press that he would stay on in his role, but leave the FDP. On Thursday, Steinmeier announced that, in addition to his previous role, Wissing will also take over as justice minister.

Persons: Olaf Scholz, Germany's, Joerg Kukies, Jörg Kukies, Kukies, Christian Lindner, Scholz, Lindner, Lindner's, Frank, Walter Steinmeier, Transport Volker Wissing —, —, Steinmeier, Wissing Organizations: Sharm El Sheikh International Convention, Green, Germany's, Digital, Transport Locations: Sharm, Sharm El, Sheikh, Egypt, Germany

☆ Lithuanians vote in parliamentary election with many looking for change despite a strong economy
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-13 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

A recent survey by pollster Vilmorus says that the Social Democratic Party, led by Vilija Blinkevičiūtė, would top the poll, with twice as many votes as Šimonytė's Homeland Union. However no party would obtain more than 20% of the vote, forcing anyone hoping to govern to to look for alliances. "Šimonytė and the entire Homeland Union looks battered, worn out and they would better spend some time on the spare bench." In 2020, Šimonytė led her Homeland Union to victory in the parliamentary election. The runoff is Oct. 27, when the majority of single-member constituencies will vote to choose between the two leading candidates.

Persons: Ingrida, Rima Urbonaitė, Šimonytė, pollster Vilmorus, Vilija Blinkevičiūtė, Nemuno, Remigijus Žemaitaitis, Žemaitaitis, Darius Mikalauskas, Urbonaitė, Gitanas Nauseda Organizations: Social Democrats, Union, Mykolas Romeris University, Social Democratic Party, Šimonytė's, Analysts, Homeland Union, Freedom Party, Liberal Locations: Lithuania, Vilnius, Belarus, Russia, Africa, Russia's Kaliningrad, Ukraine

☆ Austria election results: Freedom Party secures first far-right win since World War II
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-29 | by ( Story Associated Press | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Preliminary official results showed the Freedom Party finishing first with 29.2% of the vote and Chancellor Karl Nehammer’s Austrian People’s Party was second with 26.5%. Dutch far-right leader Geert Wilders, whose party dominates the Netherlands’ new government, congratulated the Freedom Party on social network X Sunday. Herbert Kickl, leader of the Freedom Party of Austria poses with supporters, in Vienna, Austria, Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024, after polls closed in the country's national election. The People’s Party is the far right’s only way into government, and now holds the key to forming any administration. But that looks very unlikely with the Freedom Party in first place.

Persons: Chancellor Karl Nehammer’s, Greens –, Herbert Kickl, “, Kickl, ” Kickl, ” Nehammer, ”, Geert Wilders, Alice Weidel, Heinz, Peter Bader, Christian Strache, Andreas Babler, Nehammer, Storm Boris Organizations: Freedom Party, Sunday, Chancellor Karl Nehammer’s Austrian People’s Party, Social Democrats, Greens, Rivals, Party, Russia, Sky Shield, European Union, Germany, Freedom Party of Austria, People’s, People’s Party, Nazi Locations: Austria, Ukraine, “, Germany, Brussels, Netherlands, Vienna, Russian, Europe

☆ Austria’s far-right is the frontrunner for Sunday’s elections. How did it get here?
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-28 | by ( Sophie Tanno | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

The FPÖ is known as the grandfather of European far-right parties and pedals an anti-migrant, anti-Islam, Eurosceptic and anti-vaxx agenda. It has held power at a federal level three times, in coalition with other groupings, making it one of just a few far-right parties in Europe to have done so. AFP/Getty ImagesIts political stance changed again when Jörg Haider – the son of former Nazi party members – became leader of the party in 1986. FPÖ leader Herbert Kickl speaks to supporters ahead of European parliamentary elections on June 7. According to Reinhard, the FPÖ is more likely to form a government if it comes second than if it comes first.

Persons: –, ” Benjamin Biard, FPÖ, ” Biard, “, ”, Biard, Heinz, Christian Strache, Jörg Haider –, Haider, ’, Herbert Kickl, Taylor, “ remigration, Christian Bruna, Viktor Orban –, Vladimir Putin’s, Kickl, ” Heinisch Reinhardt, Reinhardt, Karl Nehammer, Thomas Kronsteiner, Reinhard, ” Reinhard Organizations: CNN, Party, Italian Lega, Dutch Party for Freedom, “, Getty, Nazi, Austrian People’s Party, EU, Hungary’s Fidesz, Greens, University of Salzburg, Social Democrats Locations: Austria, Europe, Brussels, Flemish, Italian, Germany, Nazi, Austrian, Salzburg, AFP, Ukraine, Vienna, Lower Austria, Russia, loggerheads, ÖVP

☆ 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

☆ What Donald Trump Calling Kamala Harris a ‘Communist’ Shows - The New York Times
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-12 | by ( Paul Krugman | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Donald Trump has been using an ugly word to describe Vice President Kamala Harris. For example, Elon Musk, in a post on X, declared “Kamala is quite literally a communist,” demonstrating, among other things, that he quite literally doesn’t know the meaning of “literally.”Now, Harris obviously isn’t a communist. So why does Trump say that she is? Well, red-baiting, like race-baiting — which Trump also does when it comes to Harris — is very much part of the American political tradition. In these countries, politicians like Harris, who supports a free-market economy with a robust social safety net, are known as social democrats.

Persons: Donald Trump, Kamala Harris, Elon Musk, “ Kamala, Harris, Trump, Harris —, Ronald Reagan, It’s Organizations: Coffee, Communist

☆ Ukraine: Germany to halve military aid despite possible Trump White House
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-18 | by ( Story Reuters | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Reuters —Germany plans to halve its military aid to Ukraine next year, despite concerns that US support for Kyiv could potentially diminish if Republican candidate Donald Trump returns to the White House. German aid to Ukraine will be cut to €4 billion ($4.35 billion) in 2025 from around €8 billion in 2024, according to a draft of the 2025 budget seen by Reuters. Germany has faced criticism for repeatedly missing a NATO target of spending 2% of its economic output on defense. Days after Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, Chancellor Olaf Scholz announced a “Zeitenwende” – German for historic turning point - with a €100 billion special fund to bring the military up to speed. The defense budget is set to receive a meagre €1.3 billion more than in 2024, far below the €6.7 billion requested by Pistorius.

Persons: Donald Trump, Christian Lindner, Trump, JD Vance, Olaf Scholz, Kay Nietfeld, Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Boris Pistorius, Pistorius . Scholz, Zelensky, John MacDougall, “, ”, Ingo Gaedechens Organizations: Reuters, House, Group, German, Washington, Ukraine, Trump, NATO, Social Democrats, Greens, Defense, Getty, CDU Locations: Germany, Ukraine, €, Europe, United States, Russia, Irpin, Kyiv, Berlin

☆ How Britain’s political parties got their colors
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-01 | by ( Oscar Holland | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

While these are the only two parties with a realistic chance of winning the election, other smaller parties across the British political system offer a veritable kaleidoscope of differing — and sometimes duplicate — colours. The Liberal Democrats (orange), and Reform UK (turquoise) and the Green Party (you guessed it), are all vying for votes. Labour Party leader Keir Starmer during the launching of Labour Party election manifesto, in Manchester, on June 13, 2024. Among the smaller parties, color choices have sometimes been relatively straightforward – the Green Party uses green, unsurprisingly, due to its obvious connections with environmentalism. Ed Davey, leader of the Liberal Democrats, during an election campaign visit in Frome, UK, on May 30, 2024.

Persons: Sinn Féin, Dominic Wring, Rishi Sunak, Jeff J Mitchell, ”, Keir Starmer, Oli Scarff, Liberal Democrats —, Ed Davey, Hollie Adams Organizations: CNN, Labour, Liberal Democrats, Reform, Green Party, Scottish National Party, Northern, Wales ’ Plaid Cymru, UK’s Loughborough University . British, British, British Union of Fascists, Labour Party, Getty, Conservative Party, Liberal Party, Social Democratic Party, Lib, Bloomberg, UK Independence Party, Christian Democrats, Marijuana Party of Canada, Republicans Locations: Edinburgh, Scotland, Britain, British Union, Manchester, AFP, Frome, UK, Europe

☆ Germany sets aside unease over its military to celebrate first Veteran’s Day
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-15 | by ( Sophie Tanno | Nadine Schmidt | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

CNN —Germany is marking its first Veterans’ Day since World War Two on Saturday, a once unthinkable move that sets aside long-standing unease over the honoring of its soldiers. “We on the left reject this Veterans’ Day,” he told CNN in a statement. The commemorations, modeled on Armed Forces Day in the UK and Veterans Day in the US, will honor all Germans who have worn military uniform – not only those wounded or killed in combat. But the biggest spur to creating a Veterans’ Day has been Ukraine. He played a prominent role in forming the new Veterans’ Day bill.

Persons: Ates Gürpinar, ”, “, Boris Pistorius, ” Johannes Kiess, Johannes Arlt, Arlt, ” Arlt, Andreas Eggert, ” Eggert, Andreas Eggert “, Pistorius, Stefan Huss Organizations: CNN, Veterans ’, Veterans, Linke, Armed Forces Day, UK, Defense, National People’s Army, Bundeswehr, University of Leipzig, Social Democrats Locations: Germany, ”, Ukraine, Soviet, East Germany, Kosovo, Afghanistan, Mali, Berlin, Europe

☆ The leaders at this year's G7 summit look weaker than ever
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-14 | by ( Mikhaila Friel | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Read previewThe G7 summit has long been a showcase of global leadership and power. But 2024's group of leaders appears to be one of the weakest that has attended the summit for some time. French President Emmanuel Macron, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, US President Joe Biden, and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida at the G7 summit. 'Brittle at best'Payne argued that some of the G7 leaders aren't outright weak; rather, they face circumstances that threaten their authority. And right now, the domestic foundations of most of the G7 leaders are brittle at best," he added.

Persons: —, Inderjeet Parmar, Emmanuel Macron, Olaf Scholz's, Rishi Sunak, Giorgia Meloni, Joe Biden, Fumio Kishida, Antonio Masiello, Andrew Payne, Payne, Donald Trump, Hunter Biden's, Parmar, aren't Organizations: Service, Business, Politico, City University of London, EU, Olaf Scholz's Social Democrats, Christian Democrats, Social Democrats, White House Locations: Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Italian, Ukraine

☆ Pressure grows on Germany's Scholz after election drubbing by the far right
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-10 | by ( Sophie Kiderlin | In | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

The SPD lost support from the 2019 election, winning just 13.9% of the latest votes. Incremental gains meanwhile turned Germany's opposition, the CDU (Christian democrats), into the strongest party, with 23.7% of support. At a national level, the AfD was last ahead of the SPD and in second place overall, according to a leading general election poll. Earlier this year, one of Krah's employees who was based in the European Parliament was arrested for allegedly spying on the parliament for China. watch nowThe AfD's second-in-line for the European Parliament, Petr Bystron, faced allegations of bribery and money laundering, which were linked to Russia and to spreading pro-Kremlin propaganda.

Persons: Olaf Scholz, Koenig Heinrich, Ying Tang, Maximilian Krah, Krah, Petr Bystron, What's, Scholz, Marcel Fratzscher, Scholz's, Emmanuel Macron, Fratzscher, Holger Schmieding Organizations: SPD, Union, Scholz's SPD, Greens, CDU, Nazi regime's SS, Parliament, ZDF, German Institute for Economic Research, CNBC, Deutsche Bank Locations: Duisburg, Germany, France's Rassemblement, China, Russia

☆ Europe's climate ambitions thrown into doubt as Green vote collapses
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-10 | by ( Sam Meredith | In Samuelmeredith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

That's significantly lower than the 71 seats the Greens/EFA secured when the green faction enjoyed its strongest ever showing five years ago. Nationalist and far-right parties — traditionally skeptical of climate issues — have also been vocal critics of green policies. Bas Eickhout Lead candidate for the Green PartyBas Eickhout, lead candidate for the Green Party, said that support for the far-right parties across the bloc could jeopardize Europe's progress on climate action. Green Deal 'cannot go back'Ahead of the vote, researchers warned that the outcome of the European elections was likely to put significant pressure on the European Green Deal, the region's showcase carbon neutrality program. Which means [the] Green Deal cannot go back, but we are prepared to give it this additional twist, which is a Green Deal, but taking care of the transitions," Marques told CNBC's Silvia Amaro.

Persons: Emmanuel Macron, —, we're, Eickhout, CNBC's Silvia Amaro, Ricarda Lang, Grünen, Terry Reintke, Omid, Reintke, Pedro Marques, Marques, Jorg Asmussen, Asmussen, CNBC's Annette Weisbach, John Macdougall Organizations: Afp, Getty, European Free Alliance, Greens, EFA, Democracy, European Union, European Conservatives, Social Democrats, Free Democrats, French, Union, Nationalist, Bas Eickhout, Green Party, Green, Green Deal, Socialist, Democrats Group, German Insurance Association Locations: The Hague, Germany, Austria, France, Bas, China, United States, Europe, European, Berlin's Columbiahalle, Denmark, Netherlands, Sweden, Finland, Croatia, Latvia, Slovenia, Lithuania, EU, den Linden, Berlin

☆ Far right surges in European Parliament elections but center still holds
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-09 | by ( Christian Edwards | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —Far-right parties are predicted to win a record number of seats in the European Parliament, a result that, if confirmed, would deliver a stinging rebuke to Brussels’ political mainstream and add uncertainty to Europe’s future direction. Most of the far-right gains were concentrated in countries that elect large numbers of seats: France, Italy and Germany. Alternative for Germany (AfD) party co-leaders Alice Weidel and Tino Chrupalla cheer the exit poll in Berlin, Germany, June 9, 2024. Annegret Hilse/ReutersWhile the far-right surge may further complicate Brussels’ bid for unity, the far-right parties themselves remain relatively divided. Several other far-right parties are among the non-aligned (NI) group, predicted to secure 45 seats.

Persons: Ursula von der Leyen, –, ”, Europe’s centrists, Le, Emmanuel Macron, Jordan Bardella, ” Macron, Brigitte Macron, Stephane Lemouton, Olaf Scholz, Scholz, shored, ” von der Leyen, Alice Weidel, Tino Chrupalla, Annegret Hilse, Maximilian Krah, Roberta Metsola Organizations: CNN, European People’s Party, EPP, Macron’s Renaissance Party, Socialists, Social Democrats, Christian Democrats Party, CDU, EU, Forces, Reuters, Nazi, SS, Brussels Locations: Brussels, France, Italy, Germany, France’s, Europe, Britain, Russia, Ukraine, Kyiv, Berlin

☆ International Elections 2024: What You Need to Know
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-21 | by ( The New York Times | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +4 min

International Elections 2024: What You Need to KnowRussia U.K. United States E.U. Mexico India Indonesia 900M South Africa 90M Voting-age population Russia U.K. United States E.U. Mexico India Indonesia 900M 90M South Africa Voting-age population Russia U.K. United States E.U. Upcoming Elections India Prime Minister Narendra Modi, a divisive figure who has aggravated the religious and ethnic fault lines in the hugely diverse country, is seeking a third term. United States A rematch between President Biden and former President Donald J. Trump adds another layer of uncertainty to the global political landscape.

Persons: Narendra Modi, Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno, Paul Kagame, Biden, Donald J, Trump Organizations: United, Africa, Russia U.K, India, National Congress, European, Party, Lithuanian Christian Democrats, Conservative Party, Labour Party Locations: Russia, United States, Mexico India Indonesia, Mexico, India, South Africa, Venezuela, Sudan, Panama, Chad, Europe, Rwanda, Austria, Lithuania, Sri Lanka

☆ Germany's refusal to send 'Taurus' missiles to Ukraine is highly contentious — but won't break the government
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-19 | by ( Sophie Kiderlin | In | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

One key concern is that Ukraine may need on-the-ground help from German soldiers to work the Taurus missiles — a red line for Scholz. Since last November, the CDU has repeatedly tabled votes on sending Taurus missiles to Ukraine in Germany's parliament and failed. Annalena Baerbock, Green party foreign secretary, meanwhile, discussed Taurus missiles with U.K. foreign minister David Cameron. Separately, a high-profile Green party MP joined forces with a prominent CDU politician to pen an op-ed advocating for the delivery of Taurus missiles. "Unfortunately the Taurus debate keeps sucking up all the oxygen in the room, repeating itself over and over again.

Persons: Olaf Scholz, Macron, Tusk, Christoph Soeder, Scholz, Chancellor Scholz, Frank Sauer, Annalena, David Cameron, Ulrike Franke, MBDA, Matthias Balk, Sauer, Franke Organizations: Polish, Federal, Getty, Taurus, Bundeswehr, Russia, Christian Democrats, Free Democrats, Greens —, Scholz's Social Democrats, CDU, Greens, Social Democrats, University of, Metis Institute for Strategy, Foresight, CNBC, European Council, Foreign Relations Locations: Ukraine, Germany, Russia, Germany's, Taurus, Bundeswehr Munich, Green, Swedish, Berlin

☆ Former German Spy Chief Founds New Right-Wing Party
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-17 | by ( Feb. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

By Thomas Escritt and Sarah MarshBERLIN (Reuters) - A former German spy chief who was sacked after being accused of averting his eyes to the threat posed by the far-right founded a new right-wing party on Saturday, holding an inaugural party congress on a boat near Germany's old capital Bonn. The Werteunion, or Values Union, is headed by Hans-Georg Maassen, who was dismissed as head of Germany's Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BfV) in 2018. A former member of the opposition Christian Democrats, Maassen is himself now being monitored by the security agency he ran, he said last month. Maassen said on social media platform X, posting a photo of himself and colleagues in front of a German flag on the boat. Earlier this year, leftist politician Sahra Wagenknecht founded a new left populist party.

Persons: Thomas Escritt, Sarah Marsh BERLIN, Hans, Georg Maassen, Maassen, Heinrich XIII Prince Reuss, Sahra Wagenknecht, Sarah Marsh, Matthias Williams, Sharon Singleton Organizations: Values, Christian Democrats, Social Democrats Locations: Bonn, Germany, Chemnitz

☆ Germany's Scholz Calls for Completion of EU Capital Markets Union
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-28 | by ( Jan. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

Berlin (Reuters) - German Chancellor Olaf Scholz called on Sunday for the European Union to complete its creation of a banking and capital markets union so the bloc can compete with the U.S. and China for new technologies. The plan to create a single market for capital has been on the table since 2015 without any real progress. Scholz also called for a minimum tax rate for companies of 15% to be introduced in all EU countries. "Isn't that possibly also the basis for the banking and capital markets union to work?" The heads of EU institutions called for a strengthened euro and progress towards a capital markets union in a joint appeal in December.

Persons: Olaf Scholz, Scholz, Andreas Rinke, Maria Martinez, Andrew Cawthorne Organizations: Berlin, European Union, U.S, Social Democrats Locations: China, Berlin, Europe, EU

☆ Video of crowd’s fascist salute in heart of Rome rattles Italy – but not its prime minister
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-13 | by ( Barbie Latza Nadeau | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

The MSI party grew from the ashes of Benito Mussolini’s National Fascist Party after it was dismantled at the end of World War II when the dictator was deposed and killed. Gotor and Rocca laid a wreath at a monument to the fallen activists, but left before the fascist salute was carried out, their offices told CNN. Nor are fascist memorabilia or gestures like the fascist salute illegal, something that critics say must change. A witness who lives on the street where the commemoration took place told CNN that it happens every year, including with the fascist salute. Berizzi said that “in this moment neo-fascist groups feel protected by Meloni’s silence, her ambiguity.

Persons: Rome, Giorgia Meloni, Franco Bigonzetti, Francesco Ciavatta, Stefano Recchioni, “, ”, Benito Mussolini’s, Meloni, Francesco Rocca, Miguel Gotor, Gotor, Rocca, Elly Schlein, ” Schlein, Noemi Di Segna, Antonio Tajani –, Silvio Berlusconi –, Meloni wasn’t, ” Maria Calderone, ” Paolo Berizzi, Berizzi, Ewan MacPhee, ” MacPhee Organizations: Rome CNN, Italian, Acca, Italian Social Movement, MSI, Fascist Party, Democratic Party, CNN, ”, Union of Italian, Forza Italia, Facebook, La Repubblica, Italy’s, Operations, Social Democrats Locations: Rome, Italy, Lazio, “, Italian, Germany, Europe, Ukraine, Strasbourg

It's clear how that will end.”Germany’s constitutional court has voided some 60 billion euros ($65 billion) in spending for this year and next. Without yet another emergency declaration next year, the government would have to scramble to cover shortfalls of roughly 30 billion to 40 billion euros — plus 20 billion to 30 billion euros for 2025 — compared with earlier plans, according to Holger Schmieding, chief economist at Berenberg bank. The fallout has left Germany projected to be the worst-performing major economy this year, shrinking by 0.5%, according to the International Monetary Fund. That has led to calls from some to loosen the debt limits because they restrict the government's response to new challenges. Yet even some opposition state governors have said the debt limits should be loosened.

Persons: Chancellor Olaf Scholz, “ We've, Robert Habeck, “, ”, Holger Schmieding, Schmieding, Free Democrats doesn't, Kai Wegener Organizations: U.S, International Monetary Fund, Industry, Volkswagen, BMW, Mercedes, Benz, Seven, Social Democrats, Greens, Free Democrats, Christian Democrats, Berlin Locations: FRANKFURT, Germany, Ukraine, Russia, China, Berenberg, East Germany, Europe, Britain, U.S, Italy, Japan

A constitutional court ruling on Nov. 15 against a budget manoeuvre to get around Germany's "debt brake" threw the financial plans of Chancellor Olaf Scholz's coalition into disarray. "As I have long been saying, we must fear that the debt brake becomes ever more a brake on the future," said Berlin mayor Kai Wegner on social media platform X. "The debt brake was implemented when Europe had a debt sustainability issue and Germany wanted to lead by example," he said. "With the debt brake as it is, we have voluntarily tied our hands behind our backs and are going into a boxing match," he said. The Greens' campaign programme ahead of the last election included debt brake reform to allow for greater investments.

Persons: Olaf Scholz, Robert Habeck, Christian Lindner, Chancellor Olaf Scholz's, Reiner Haseloff, Haseloff, Kai Wegner, Friedrich Merz, Carsten Brzeski, Roderich Kiesewetter, Stefan Marschall, Andreas Rinke, Sarah Marsh, Matthias Williams, Holger Hansen, Nick Macfie Organizations: Climate, Finance, BERLIN, U.S, Intel, Reuters, AAA, Christian Democratic Union, CDU, Christian Social Union, CSU, Berlin, Free Democrats, Social Democrats, Greens, ING, SPD, University of Duesseldorf, Thomson Locations: Berlin, Europe's, Ukraine, Saxony, Anhalt, United States, Bavarian, Federal, Germany, Europe, France, Italy, Spain, China

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