Martin Schulz

Supporters of German AfD wave flags in front of the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin, Germany, May 27, 2018. (AP Photo/Michael Sohn)

September 24, 2018, 2:49 am

One year on, far right has transformed German politics

Taking up 92 seats in the lower house of parliament, the country’s largest opposition party uses every chance it gets to rail against immigration, Islam and Chancellor Merkel

By Yannick Pasquet

German Chancellor Angela Merkel, center, shakes hand with Social Democratic Party Chairman Martin Schulz as Bavarian governor Horst Seehofer, left, looks on during a joint statement after the exploratory talks between Merkel's Christian Democratic block and the Social Democrats on forming a new German government in Berlin, Germany, on January 12, 2018. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber)

January 12, 2018, 5:47 pm

Germany’s Merkel closer to breaking impasse over new government

Chancelor’s CDU reaches deal with Social Democrats to enter coalition talks; parties pledge to curb immigration, which fueled far-right AfD in elections

By Geir Moulson and Kirsten Grieshaber

This combination of file photos on December 1, 2017 shows German Chancellor Angela Merkel (L) and Martin Schulz, leader of Germany's social democrat SPD party. (AFP/Odd Andersen, AFP/Tobias Schwarz)

December 1, 2017, 4:01 pm

Schulz ready for tense talks with Merkel on ending German impasse

Merkel’s bid to form a coalition with the ecologist Greens and pro-business FDP fell apart last month, leaving the European giant in limbo

By Hui Min NEO

German Chancellor Angela Merkel gives a press conference on November 27, 2017, in Berlin, following a meeting with her conservative Christian Democratic Union (CDU) party's leadership. (AFP PHOTO / John MACDOUGALL)

November 27, 2017, 6:29 pm

Merkel ready to try again for coalition with center-left Social Democrats

Talks between chancellor’s conservative bloc and two smaller parties collapsed last week, and now her previous partners are open to negotiations

By Kirsten Grieshaber

German Chancellor and leader of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) party, Angela Merkel, gives a talk in her home state of Mecklenburg Western Pomerania, on November 25, 2017, in Kuehlungsborn, northern Germany. (AFP PHOTO / dpa / Bernd Wüstneck)

November 26, 2017, 9:14 pm

Merkel urged to swiftly seal repeat coalition with SPD

Social Democrats make u-turn after breakdown of talks with Free Democrats and Greens to allow for repeat of grand coalition

By Michelle Fitzpatrick

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu meets with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, in Berlin, Germany, on February 16, 2016. (Amos Ben Gershom/GPO)

September 25, 2017, 1:20 am

PM congratulates Merkel on reelection, stays mum on rise of far-right

Netanyahu hails German leader as ‘true friend’; Likud MK Yehuda Glick urges calm for those ‘panicking’ about AfD’s arrival in Bundestag, says it is working to remove anti-Semites

By Agencies and TOI staff

A protester's sign reads, "Xenophobia is not an alternative," during a demonstration outside an election night event of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party in Berlin after the general election on September 24, 2017. (AFP Photo/ John Macdougall)

September 24, 2017, 9:43 pm

German Jews say far right’s march into Bundestag a ‘nightmare come true’

Nationalist AfD party vows to ‘change country’ after winning 13% of vote, becoming first extreme right party to enter parliament since World War II

By Agencies and TOI staff

German Chancellor Angela Merkel is surrounded by party board members as she delivers a speech, after the German parliament elections at the headquarters of the Christian Democratic Union CDU in Berlin, Germany, September 24, 2017. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

September 24, 2017, 8:34 pm

Hard-right AfD surges into German parliament as Merkel wins fourth term

On course for lackluster victory, reelected chancellor says nationalist party’s entry into Bundestag poses a ‘big challenge’

By Deborah Cole and Hui Min NEO

German Chancellor Angela Merkel (C) serves coffee to members of her Christian Democratic Union's election campaign team at a party event in Berlin on September 23, 2017, one day before general elections. (AFP Photo/dpa/Michael Kappeler)

September 23, 2017, 3:21 pm

‘Bring home the bacon,’ Merkel tells voters on eve of elections

German chancellor, about 14% ahead, pushes message of stability ahead of Sunday’s vote, which is likely to see a far-right party win seats for 1st time since WWII

By Frank Zeller and Hui Min NEO

German Chancellor Angela Merkel addresses an election campaign rally of her Christian Democratic Union party in Fritzlar, Germany, on September 21, 2017. (AFP/dpa/Swen Pförtner)

September 23, 2017, 3:59 am

Merkel takes on hard right in final German vote push

Mainstream parties are increasingly alarmed by the level of support for the anti-immigration party Alternative for Germany (AfD)

By Deborah Cole and Hui Min NEO

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan gives a speech during a meeting of the ruling Justice and Development Party provincial heads at the AKP headquarters in Ankara on September 6, 2017. (AFP Photo/Adem Altan)

September 6, 2017, 6:04 pm

Erdogan compares Merkel’s comments on Turkey’s EU bid to ‘Nazism’

President urges ethnic Turks in Germany not to vote for ‘Turkey’s enemies’ after chancellor issued criticism during election debate

By Agencies

Journalists watch a televised debate between German chancellor and leader of the conservative Christian Democratic Union (CDU) party Angela Merkel and Martin Schulz, leader of Germany's social democratic SPD party and candidate for chancellor at a television studio in Berlin on September 3, 2017. (AFP PHOTO / John MACDOUGALL)

September 4, 2017, 12:24 pm

Merkel wins German TV election debate, defends stance on refugees

Challenger Martin Schulz fails to ‘land a punch’ against chancellor who speaks of positive contribution of Muslims to society

By AFP and TOI staff

Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei speaks during a meeting in Tehran, Iran, Augist 1, 2016. (Office of the Iranian Supreme Leader via AP)

August 16, 2017, 8:34 pm

Iran’s supreme leader mocks US over Charlottesville

Amid growing international criticism, Germany’s Martin Schulz says Trump’s comments following violent rally ‘highly dangerous’

By Agencies

German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel delivers a speech during the Protestant church day (Kirchentag) event at the City Cube in Berlin on May 26, 2017. (AFP Photo/dpa/Lino Mirgeler)

May 30, 2017, 7:32 pm

German FM says US ‘older and bigger’ than current conflict

Gabriel admits ‘difficult situation’ between two countries in Trump era, says it is ‘inappropriate to communicate over Twitter’

By TOI staff and AFP

Armin Laschet, top candidate of the conservative Christian Democratic Union (CDU) celebrates during an election party on May 14, 2017 in Duesseldorf, western Germany, after North Rhine-Westphalia state elections. (AFP PHOTO / dpa / Oliver Berg)

May 14, 2017, 11:29 pm

Merkel’s party bags key victory in regional vote

Chancellor receives huge boost in reelection bid as CDU wins 34.4% in North Rhine-Westphalia, for decades held by SDP

By Richard HEISTER and Hui Min NEO