Angela Merkel

When the Kohl government was defeated in the 1998 general election, Merkel was named Secretary-General of the CDU. In this position, Merkel oversaw a string of Christian Democrat election victories in six out of seven state elections in 1999 ...  

The line in the sand couldn't be clearer. On one side is German Chancellor Angela Merkel; on the other is newly elected French President Francois Hollande. They're fighting over something that exists only in the imagination: the euro bond ...  

BERLIN — It was exactly the kind of news that Angela Merkel did not want. Voerdal, an aluminum company employing more than 400 people, has gone into bankruptcy. It will close unless the regional government of North Rhine-Westphalia comes up ...  

(AGI) Berlin - Angela Merkel has been mocked by a German comedian after she failed to locate Berlin on a map. German comedian Oliver Welke made fun of Chancellor Angela Merkel during an instalment of state TV ZDF's popular satirical show 'Heute Show'.  

Angela Dorothea Merkel, ; née Kasner (born 17 July 1954) is the Chancellor of Germany and Chairwoman of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU). Merkel is the first female Chancellor of Germany. A physical chemist by professional background ...  

France's new president, François Hollande, has put the German chancellor on the defensive with his growth agenda. Now Angela Merkel is planning to strike back. She is calling for structural reforms to save the euro with a six-point plan aimed at harmonizing austerity and growth in Europe once again. The more European leaders talked at a dinner last Wednesday, the grimmer Angela Merkel looked. One after another, they spoke out in favor of the...  

BERLIN (Reuters) - Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservatives saw their lead over the main centre-left opposition party crumble in the sharpest one-week shift in German voter sentiment in seven years, an opinion poll showed on Sunday.Related StoriesBOE'S Dale says expects euro zone uncertainty set to continueLloyd's of London prepares for Greek exit - paperEgypt presidential election body weighs complaintsVatican faces widening of leaks...  

ROME | BERLIN: Chancellor Angela Merkel left open a potential compromise on debt sharing in the euro area as Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti said he can help bring Germany round to acting in Europe's "common good." Merkel's veto on allowing ...  

Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservatives saw their lead over the main centre-left opposition party crumble in the sharpest one-week shift in German voter sentiment in seven years, an opinion poll showed today. An eight point lead by Dr Merkel's Christian ...  

BERLIN (Reuters) - Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservatives saw their lead over the main centre-left opposition party crumble in the sharpest one-week shift in German voter sentiment in seven years, an opinion poll showed on Sunday. An eight percentage ...  

Angela Dorothea Merkel, ; née Kasner (born 17 July 1954) is the Chancellor of Germany and Chairwoman of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU). Merkel is the first female Chancellor of Germany. A physical chemist by professional background ...  

BERLIN (AP) -- A senior lawmaker with German Chancellor Angela Merkel's party says he sees room for agreement with France's incoming president on his desire to foster growth and Berlin's drive for budget discipline. Peter Altmaier, the chief ...  

Germany's opposition leader says that Chancellor Angela Merkel has accepted the need to add a separate set of measures promoting growth to the European Union's treaty enshrining fiscal discipline. Related StoriesEurozone set to abandon Greece – and austerityEU urges Greece to stay in euro, but plans for possible exitAngela Merkel courts opposition over EU fiscal treatyUkraine bans smoking in publicAnders Breivik won't appeal case if found sane  

Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel and France's President Francois Hollande (R) attend an informal EU leaders summit in Brussels on May 23, 2012. European leaders will try to breathe life into their stricken economies at a summit over dinner on Wednesday ...  

BERLIN -- A new poll finds support for Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservatives has fallen after an embarrassing election defeat in Germany's most populous state. The Forsa poll for Stern magazine, released Wednesday, put support for Merkel's ...  

Full Comment’s Araminta Wordsworth brings you a daily round-up of quality punditry from across the globe.  Today: Angela Merkel suddenly finds herself feeling very lonely. With the ouster of ally Nicolas Sarkozy as French president, the German Chancellor is the only European leader left preaching austerity. She looks uncomfortably like a finger-wagging nanny, while the ...  

BERLIN—Chancellor Angela Merkel is pressing for faster progress on revamping Germany's electricity network to support the country's transition to renewable energy sources as it switches off its nuclear plants. Merkel's government decided last ...  

Might the lady finally be for turning? Is Chancellor Angela Merkel about to bend under enormous pressure to change direction on the euro? In Germany, the papers increasingly call her "Die Eiserne Lady" - but will the iron start to melt?  

although he did not meet with any members of Merkel’s coalition government, highlighting Berlin’s growing exasperation with Greek politicians. Alexander Dobrindt, Deputy Leader of the Christian Social Democrats – one of the three parties ...  

France's new president, François Hollande, has put the German chancellor on the defensive with his growth agenda. Now Angela Merkel is planning to strike back. She is calling for structural reforms to save the euro with a six-point plan aimed at harmonizing austerity and growth in Europe once again.  

BERLIN - Chancellor Angela Merkel is pressing for faster progress on revamping Germany's electricity network to support the ... embarking on a transition to renewable power that is one of its most important projects. But Merkel conceded in her weekly ...  

Merkel said she had asked Germany's president to dismiss Norbert Röttgen and replace him with Peter Altmaier, a trusted senior politician who has been the Christian Democratic Union's chief whip since 2009 and helped organise parliamentary ...  

The German Chancellor Angela Merkel said she finds it "astonishing" that her pro-austerity stance is the cause of controversy, as Germany found itself increasingly isolated on the issue of eurobonds ahead of Wednesday's European Union leaders summit.  

He will have support from Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti and European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso, among other leaders. But Merkel shows no sign of dropping her objections to the proposal, which she has said can only be ...  

Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti had suggested a meeting with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, French President Francois Hollande and Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy, but there was difficulty setting a date. Merkel had appeared lukewarm on the idea ...  

May 26, 2012 1:11 AMCHANCELLOR Angela Merkel left the door open to a compromise on debt sharing in the euro area as Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti said he can help bring Germany round to acting in Europe's "common good."  

BERLIN: A spokesman for Angela Merkel forcefully denied Monday that the German chancellor had suggested Greece hold a referendum on its eurozone membership at the same time as a general election. "The fact is the chancellor did not propose a ...  

Angela Merkel's coalition partner the Free Democratic Party (FDP) is back above the crucial five percent mark in a major opinion poll – but that would still not be enough to provide the German chancellor with another government. The latest weekly opinion ...  

“Isolation is a dream killer,” so the saying goes. Many commentators assert that German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s unprecedented new isolation in Europe over eurobonds and growth measures could turn her dream of tightly controlled European ...  

Angela Merkel Stands Firm On Greece At G8 Talks After inconclusive discussions, leaders issue communique saying 'the right measures are not the same for each of us' Patrick Wintour 20 May 2012 Angela Merkel has declined to shift position on fresh measures to stimulate demand in the euro area, including the idea of eurobonds, leaving other EU countries hoping she will adopt a more conciliatory mood when the EU heads of government meet on...  

(Updates with comment by Merkel economic adviser in fourth paragraph, markets in fifth, government comment in 12th.) May 25 (Bloomberg) -- Chancellor Angela Merkel left the door open to a compromise on debt sharing in the euro area as Italian ...  

The leaders of the world’s leading economies convened at Camp David this weekend—only they didn’t ... On this question, Germany wisely defies the clique. Daniel J. Flynn is a columnist for HUMAN EVENTS and the author of Blue Collar Intellectuals ...  

Angela Merkel has declined to shift position on fresh measures to stimulate demand in the euro area, including the idea of eurobonds, leaving other EU countries hoping she will adopt a more conciliatory mood when the EU heads of government meet on ...  

Europe’s odd couple, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Socialist French President Francois Hollande, may be poles apart but their first double act appeared to set off on the right foot. At an EU summit into the wee hours of yesterday ...  

Raising fresh funds by issuing more debt in the shape of eurobonds will not solve and only exacerbate the eurozone's problems, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Thursday. "It makes no sense to want to fix everything with eurobonds or other similar ...  

German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Bavaria’s Prime Minister Horst Seehofer, a conservative ally, want a law that obliges companies to set flexible quotas for women in management positions, Der Spiegel reported, without citing anyone.  

Cancelarul german Angela Merkel a propus intr-adevar un referendum asupra mentinerii Greciei in Zona Euro, concomitent cu alegerile parlamentare din 17 iunie, afirma Spiegel, in editia care va fi publicata luni, in ciuda dezmintirii oficiale a Berlinului, relateaza AFP.  

BERLIN (AP) -- German Chancellor Angela Merkel insisted Monday that a heavy state election defeat for her party won't weaken her as she grapples with Europe's deepening debt crisis. Facing an emboldened opposition at home as a national vote ...  

German-Greek relations were further strained on Friday after the German chancellor, Angela Merkel, was heard advising Greece to hold a referendum on its membership of the euro. Greek politicians reacted angrily, but Merkel's aides insisted she ...  

Chancellor Angela Merkel fired Norbert Roettgen, the federal environment minister who led her Christian Democratic Union to its worst-ever result in an election in Germany’s most populous state. Merkel said that she contacted President Joachim ...  

Liderii principalelor partide politice si presa locala au denuntat sambata sugestia cancelarului german Angela Merkel de a organiza un referendum in Grecia referitor la mentinerea sau nu a tarii in Zona Euro, in paralel cu alegerile legislative din 17 iunie, relateaza AFP.  

German Chancellor Angela Merkel held a summit Wednesday to review the lack of progress in the country's dramatic nuclear phaseout and shift to renewable energies. On the editorial pages, many commentators are critical of government policies that have caused electricity prices to soar.  

Germany's opposition leader says that Chancellor Angela Merkel has accepted the need to add a separate set of measures promoting growth to the European Union's treaty enshrining fiscal discipline.Related StoriesSuspect held over 1979 missing boyPolish jails ready for Euro fansYemen: 35 al-Qaida militants killedVatican bank chief leaves postScuffles in Ukraine parliament  

German Chancellor Angela Merkel has reportedly suggested to Greek President Karolos Papoulias that a referendum on Greece's position in the eurozone be held at the same time as the nation's second elections on June 17. The irony of such a suggestion cannot ...  

German leader Angela Merkel has apparently asked Greek president Karolos Papoulias to consider holding a referendum on whether the country should leave the euro.Greek officials claimed Chancellor Merkel suggested the vote could be held alongside next month's general election to try to bring an end to the uncertainty about Greece's membership of the single currency, but that the president rejected the plan. Angela Merkel wants Greece to...  

When François Hollande emerged from his first EU summit early on Thursday, apart from joking about how some of his fellow leaders talked too much, he did something unusual for a French president: he stressed his differences with Angela Merkel, the German chancellor.  

So the Prime Minister could be forgiven for not being quite so humble in victory when Chelsea beat Bayern Munich to take the Champions League title last night. Mrs Merkel looked less than impressed as Didier Drogba hurtled his penalty past Manuel Neuer to ...  

The situation has seldom been this serious for German Chancellor Angela Merkel. The leader is increasingly isolated in Europe because of her rigid austerity policies, while at home, criticism is growing of her decision to fire her environment minister last week. Her new toughness could backfire by making her look unsympathetic to voters, say analysts. Usually, Angela Merkel enjoys her presence on the international stage. It has always...  

Voter confidence in German Chancellor Angela Merkel's ruling party waned drastically last week, a new poll said. The slump is another blow for the Christian Democratic Union, darkening its prospects for next year's election. In this week's Forsa survey ...  

It's Helicopter Ben That Needs to Go Back to School Capital Flows Contributor Angela Merkel enforces power over other European politicians and technocrats because Germany has the credit and money, but she is losing her influence. (If you like Ms ...  

David Cameron will today press the German Chancellor, Angela Merkel, to come to the rescue of Greece and other ailing European economies or risk the collapse of the single currency.Related StoriesDavid Cameron to meet new French President François Hollande for first time at G8 summitA journey through the heart of ItalyProsecution error sees Ratko Mladic trial delayed for monthsDavid Cameron to tell Angela Merkel she is the only person who can...  

David Cameron will today press the German Chancellor, Angela Merkel, to come to the rescue of Greece and other ailing European economies or risk the collapse of the single currency.Related StoriesDavid Cameron to meet new French President François Hollande for first time at G8 summitA journey through the heart of ItalyProsecution error sees Ratko Mladic trial delayed for monthsDavid Cameron to tell Angela Merkel she is the only person who can...  

BERLIN (Reuters) - Europe's new fiscal pact must emphasize growth as well as austerity, Germany's main opposition party said on Thursday, echoing French calls for a shift in strategy before a meeting at which Chancellor Angela Merkel will ask it to back the plan.  

German Chancellor Angela Merkel is sending the message that she is committed to keeping Greece in the eurozone. In an interview with CNBC, Merkel says that she is open to stimulus programs. Now, that could be seen as a shift at at a time Greeks are blaming austerity imposed by Europe for their woes.  

German Chancellor Angela Merkel faces mounting pressure from her domestic opposition to accept debt sharing in the euro area after she rejected similar calls at a European Union summit last night. The Social Democratic Party will press Merkel on ...  

Francois Hollande is an ambitious man, who has shown more tenacity than many had expected. Bringing the promised change to France, he certainly does not wish to follow in his predecessor Sarkozy’s footsteps when facing the conservative Angela Merkel.  

The surprise suggestion, made in a phone call with Greek President Carolos Papoulias, was immediately rejected. "It is clear that the matter is beyond the competence of the caretaker government," the office of Prime Minister Panagiotis Pikrammenos said.  

Angela Merkel and Francois Hollande meet for the first time in Berlin Photo: Reuters During their first meeting new French President Francois Hollande and German Chancellor Angela Merkel have spoken about their hopes to keep Greece within the ...  

"With new Greek elections on 17 June, a protest against established parties puts the radical left-wing Syriza party in pole position to form a coalition government," said Kit Juckes ... more orderly Greek exit," said Mr. Tal. "For now, in this game ...  

A German government spokesman denied that such comments were made to Greek president Karolos Papoulias. However, a Greek government spokesman contradicted this. “It is clear that the matter is beyond the competence of the caretaker government,” the ...  

French President Francois Hollande and German Chancellor Angela Merkel were at odds over the issue of eurobonds at a European Union summit overnight, as concern rose over a possible Greek euro exit. "Among the proposals I will put on the table will be ...  

"(Merkel) relayed to the President (Karolos Papoulias)thoughts about holding a referendum in parallel with the elections on the question whether Greek citizens wish to remain in the euro zone," Greek government spokesman Dimitris Tsiodras said in a statement  

And Pasok MP Eva Kaili has also rejected Merkel's suggestion ... 5.40pm BST: European Parliament president Martin Schulz has visited Greece today. In a speech given in Athens, the German social democrat spoke plainly about the pain suffered by ordinary ...  

BERLIN  - Chancellor Angela Merkel will soon have an extra $1,182 in her pocket each month after Germany's cabinet awarded themselves their first pay rise in 12 years. Merkel also said that her environment minister had been dismissed, three days after he led her conservatives to an historic defeat in a regional election. She said that she had spoken to President Joachim Gauck "to ask him ...  

Angela Merkel's conservative Christian Democratic Union (CDU) has suffered a major setback 16 months ahead of national elections, losing a poll in the country's most populous state with a record low level of support. The Wall Street Journal ...  

German Chancellor Angela Merkel will have to perform a wily balancing act at tonight’s summit of European leaders. Growth strategies have to be combined with deficit reduction. Read more on the blog... Read more on the blog...  

Voters in North Rhine-Westphalia give opposition parties enough support to form a governing coalition. The chancellor's Christian Democrats receive about 26%.DUESSELDORF, Germany — Voters in Germany's most populous state dealt a decisive blow to Chancellor Angela Merkel's Christian Democratic Union on Sunday, preliminary results show, a potentially ominous preview of things to come for the chancellor in next year's federal elections.  

BERLIN, Germany – It started with a handshake, not a kiss. When Chancellor Angela Merkel and new French President Francois Hollande finally met in person on Tuesday evening, there was little of the warmth that marked her meetings with Nicolas Sarkozy in ...  

Germany’s Chancellor Angela Merkel said the bonds, pooling eurozone debt, would violate EU treaties and would “not contribute to kick-starting growth”. France’s President Francois Hollande says he wants discussion of eurobonds – and ...  

BERLIN -- German government officials Wednesday sought to dispel doubts about the country's shift toward renewable energy as the transition is running behind schedule and has led to concerns about power shortages. Chancellor Angela Merkel said ...  

As the German leader's austerity strategy loses backing, the OECD warns that the crisis threatens recovery throughout the world, including in the U.S.BERLIN — If it seems to German Chancellor Angela Merkel that the world is against her, she may be right.  

DUSSELDORF, Germany — Voters in Germany’s most populous state dealt a decisive blow to Chancellor Angela Merkel’s Christian Democratic Union on Sunday, according to exit polls, a potentially ominous preview of things to come for the chance ...  

BERLIN (Reuters) - Chancellor Angela Merkel agreed with Germany's state premiers on Wednesday to step up efforts to expand the power grid and resolve a dispute over solar incentives as she tries to rescue plans for a switch away from nuclear to ...  

BERLIN (AP) — A new poll finds support for Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservatives has fallen after an embarrassing election defeat in Germany's most populous state. The Forsa poll for Stern magazine, released Wednesday, put support for Merkel's Union ...  

BERLIN: Chancellor Angela Merkel will soon have an extra 930 euros (USD 1,182) in her pocket each month after Germany's cabinet awarded themselves their first pay rise in 12 years. The salaries of Merkel and her ministers will rise by 5.7 per ...  

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Wednesday Germany will propose strengthening the European Union's investment arm, the European Investment Bank (EIB), and deepening the bloc's internal market but expects no decisions at a ...  

* Projections show worst post-war result in state for CDU * Result could harden opposition to Berlin's austerity policies * Centre-left SPD ride popular incumbent Kraft to big victory * Upstart Pirates set to enter fourth regional parliament By Stephen Brown DUESSELDORF, Germany, May 13 (Reuters) - Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservatives suffered a crushing defeat...  

German government officials Wednesday sought to dispel doubts about the country's shift toward renewable energy as the transition is running behind schedule and has led to concerns about power shortages. Chancellor Angela Merkel said her government aims ...  

(Flickr / Environment Blog) ATHENS—The European austerity caucus led by German Chancellor Angela Merkel is coming apart, but Germany retains the power to block the newly forming coalition for growth as a solution to the eurozone crisis. Tonight’s summit dinner in Brussels is unlikely to produce a breakthrough. But what a difference an election makes. Since Francois Hollande was elected President of France less than three weeks ago, leaders...  

The election of Hollande earlier this month has fractured the traditional Franco-German alliance, with the French premier's desire to tackle the sovereign debt crisis through growth clashing with Chancellor Angela Merkel's predominantly austerity-led agenda.  

Francois Hollande was sworn in today and promptly headed for Berlin to meet German Leader Angela Merkel for the first time. The two power players in European politics have very different ideas about how to tackle the European financial mess.  

BRUSSELS, May 23 (UPI) -- Germany rejected euro bonds amid rising calls for the shared-debt remedy the French president said he would recommend to Chancellor Angela Merkel at a summit. "You can wake me up in the middle of the night, at 3 a.m ...  

BERLIN (Reuters) - Germany's new environment minister described a planned post-nuclear switch to renewable energy in Europe's biggest economy as a "Herculean task" as 16 state premiers gathered to discuss the complex problem with Chancellor Angela Merkel on Wednesday.  

BRUSSELS – French President Francois Hollande thinks he’s found a solution to the euro zone crisis: the name’s Bonds. Euro bonds.But Angela Merkel’s still playing Dr. No.At a euro zone summit on Wednesday, the new French leader plans to revive proposals for bonds that would be jointly issued by euro zone countries to spread national debt burdens across the whole currency bloc.Hollande knows however that there is little chance the German...  

It was a dramatic arrival, but arrive François Hollande did. Not even a lightning strike on his plane was enough to stop France's new president from keeping his date with destiny. As he stepped out of his Mercedes to be greeted by Angela Merkel ...  

BERLIN (Reuters) - Chancellor Angela Merkel is aiming for a breakthrough on stalled government plans to slash subsidies to the solar power industry before parliament's summer recess, she said after a meeting on energy policy with the heads of Germany's 16 federal states. Merkel said on Wednesday she had set up working groups with the states, some of which oppose cuts in solar feed-in tariffs. They managed to suspend her proposal in the upper...  

German Chancellor Angela Merkel will seek agreement on supporting solar power and plans to spur base- load generation ... the states blocked the central government bill in the upper house. Utilities including EON AG and RWE AG (RWE) declined ...  

They do say it's lonely at the top, so France's new president Francois Hollande must have been grateful for a helping hand from German chancellor Angela Merkel yesterday. Mr Hollande was the guest of honour at a red-carpet ceremony in Berlin, but the ...  

François Hollande will be sworn in as President of France this morning only to see his leadership qualities put to the test within hours of entering the Elysée, as he flies to Berlin for a tense first meeting with Angela Merkel over growth and austerity in Europe.  

BERLIN (Dow Jones)--German Chancellor Angela Merkel remains popular with voters despite a significant fall in support for her conservative party after a devastating defeat in state elections, according to an opinion poll released Wednesday.  

Merkel Heads For Debt Showdown With Hollande At EU Summit (Bloomberg) German Chancellor Angela Merkel said she won’t shy away from disagreeing with French President Francois Hollande at the summit in Brussels over dinner at 7 p.m., the next major appointment of leaders seeking to allay concerns that Greece may quit the euro, putting Spain and Italy at risk as well. Good cooperation “doesn’t exclude differing positions,” Merkel told reporters...  

A new poll finds support for Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservatives has fallen after an embarrassing election defeat in Germany's most populous state.The Forsa poll for Stern magazine, released Wednesday, put support for Merkel's Union bloc at 31 percent - down four points from the previous week.That left it four points ahead of the main opposition Social Democrats but neither has enough support for a majority with its preferred coalition...  

The situation has seldom been this serious for German Chancellor Angela Merkel. The leader is increasingly isolated in Europe because of her rigid austerity policies, while at home, criticism is growing of her decision to fire her environment minister last week. Her new toughness could backfire by making her look unsympathetic to voters, say analysts.  

Angela Merkel has said she is astonished by the controversy her pro-austerity stance is causing. With Greece a matter of weeks away from going bust, the German chancellor has been under growing pressure to sanction the pooling Europe's debt ...  

His nervous demeanour was only matched by that of his Chancellor and hapless strategist George Osborne,who clearly expected a kicking himself, but neither could match the appearance of Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg who looked as if tears were but one ...  

BERLIN (Reuters) - Support for German Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservatives has slid to its lowest level in over half a year following their drubbing in an important regional election, according to a new opinion poll published on Wednesday. The survey ...  

Chancellor Angela Merkel's government dug in its heels Monday against growing French and European Union pressure for eurozone governments to jointly borrow money on financial markets. Confirming that the issue would come up for discussion at a special EU ...  

BRUSSELS, May 23 (Reuters) - European leaders will try to breathe life into their stricken economies at a summit over dinner on Wednesday ... now a rallying cry for other leaders. That has set up a showdown with German Chancellor Angela Merkel ...  

That has set up a showdown with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who supports growth but whose primary objective is budget austerity and structural reform. While she and former French president Nicolas Sarkozy did not always see eye-to-eye ...  

Evening HeadlinesBloomberg: Merkel Faces Hollande Pleas to Shed 'Taboos'. A plea to shed “taboos” may put German Chancellor Angela Merkel in a corner today as she digs in against joint debt sales to counter Europe’s financial crisis. Merkel, the dominant figure in more than two years of crisis-fighting, heads to a Brussels summit unable to stifle calls for measures she opposes, including euro bonds, the use of European money to recapitalize...  

German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s Chrsitian Democratic Union was defeated on Sunday in the country’s most populous state of North Rhine-Westphalia, garnering just 25% of the vote against opponent Social Democrats and Greens which obtained 38% and 11% ...  

Hopes that Chancellor Angela Merkel will back down from her strict insistence on austerity are likely to be dashed despite mounting European criticism of her policy and a crushing state election defeat for her party on Sunday. Most Germans like how she has ...  

He was replaced by Peter Altmaier, the Christian Democrats' leader in the lower house of parliament, the Bundestag. Mr Roettgen provoked controversy early in the North-Rhine Westphalia campaign by refusing to commit to giving up his job as ...  

Chancellor Angela Merkel’s new environment minister said he’ll seek a compromise with German states over plans to cut solar subsidies, as he takes control of the country’s 200-billion-euro ($250 billion) energy overhaul amid signs it is stalling.  

Anyone, especially anyone in Greece, hoping for a Franco-German showdown over “growth” when François Hollande meets Angela Merkel today will be disappointed.Related Stories'Amicable divorce'? Tycoon couple show Greeks how millionaires do it...Panic and violence in the streets as protesters turn against politiciansWorld braces itself for Greek euro exitThe Mafia wives who want outWorld braces itself for Greek euro exit  

German Chancellor Angela Merkel will have to perform a wily balancing act at tonight’s summit of European leaders – showing her sympathy for the new growth initiatives that will be raised, while insisting that debt-strapped countries have no choice but ...  

Angela Merkel, the German chancellor, finds herself increasingly on the defensive over the bonds, which she opposes as a near-term remedy for the region’s financial woes. But proponents say that bonds jointly issued by the 17 members of the ...  

When the Kohl government was defeated in the 1998 general election, Merkel was named Secretary-General of the CDU. In this position, Merkel oversaw a string of Christian Democrat election victories in six out of seven state elections in 1999 ...  

Berlin: Voters in Germany's most populous state inflicted an embarrassingly heavy defeat on Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservatives on Sunday and strengthened a regional government that the German leader's party had portrayed as irresponsibly ...  

However, she did not receive enough support in her own party and particularly its sister party (the Bavarian Christian Social Union, or CSU), and was subsequently out-manoeuvred politically by CSU leader Edmund Stoiber, to whom she eventually ...  

France's newly appointed president arrives in Berlin for his first meeting with Germany's chancellor8.45pm: And that's it for now. A handshake between the two leaders signals the end of the first joint press conference between the two leaders.It was a million miles away from anything in the way of political fire-works but, equally, there seemed to have been no attempt to paper over differences. Hollande emphasised his belief in the need to...  

Telegraph.co.ukAngela Merkel setback as austerity agenda rejected in Germany's biggest stateTelegraph.co.ukAngela Merkel suffered a major blow last night after voters in Germany's biggest region decisively rejected her austerity policies in a defeat that will weaken her on the European stage. German Chancellor Angela Merkel Photo: AP By Bruno Waterfield The ...Angela Merkel dealt further blow by German votersThe GuardianGerman opposition wins...  

German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s Chrsitian Democratic Union was defeated on Sunday in the country’s most populous state of North Rhine-Westphalia, garnering just 25% of the vote against opponent Social Democrats and Greens which obtained 38% and 11% ...  

French President François Hollande will put German Chancellor Angela Merkel under pressure at Wednesday's EU summit to agree to euro bonds, which she has so far strictly opposed. Italy and Britain are expected to back Hollande in a further sign that Merkel is increasingly isolated in Europe with her austerity plan for saving the euro.  

BERLIN (AP) -- German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Francois Hollande agreed Tuesday to spend the coming weeks discussing proposals for generating economic growth in Europe, a first step to bridging their differences over how to ...  

Ifølge en journalist fra den tyske avis Bild har forbundskansler Angela Merkel luftet muligheden for en græsk folkeafstemning om euroen. En repræsentant for kansleren afviser.- Hvad med at afholde en folkeafstemning om græsk medlemskab af euroen.Nogenlunde sådan skulle det angiveligt have lydt fra den tyske forbundskansler, Angela Merkel, da hun fredag talte i telefon med Grækenlands præsident, Karolos Papoulias.  

Berlin, May 17 (PTI) German Chancellor Angela Merkel has sacked her environment minister Norbert Roettgen, three days after her party Christian Democratic Union (CDU) suffered a crushing defeat in a state election. Merkel announced the decision to dismiss ...  

Voters in Germany's most populous state handed a resounding victory to the centre-lefton Sunday, dealing a heavy blow to Angela Merkel's conservatives in what was interpreted as a backlash against the chancellor's European austerity campaign. Exit polls on Sunday night in the North Rhine-Westphalia election showed Hannelore Kraft, who had led the state's centre-left Social Democrats (SPD) in a coalition with the Greens, had soundly beaten her...  

A tale from the Labour Party campaign trail that borders on the urban myth. In a Dublin suburb, an angry voter berated a party canvasser: "Why is there a photo of Angela Merkel on your leaflet?" The punter on the doorstep is told by the sheepish Labour ...  

Chancellor Angela Merkel is being pushed by German states to ease their budget squeeze by sharing borrowing costs, a policy she has opposed in confronting the financial crisis in the rest of the euro region. The opposition Social Democrats plan ...  

Support for Germany's opposition Social Democrats has jumped since their victory in a regional election, a poll showed, highlighting the increased domestic pressure on Chancellor Angela Merkel as she battles the euro zone crisis.  

Harold James is the Claude and Lore Kelly Professor in European Studies at Princeton University....It’s important to point out that [a] shift [of power in Europe to Germany] has been a long time in coming. It was prefigured by the famous photo from the cemetery at the great World War I battlefield of Verdun, which depicted the massive figure of Chancellor Helmut Kohl holding hands with the diminutive President Francois Mitterand. But what...  

CHANCELLOR Angela Merkel's party faces a drubbing in Germany's most populous state tonight in a snap election that could provide impetus to her main rivals in the countdown to 2013 national polls. A week after voters in Greece and France clearly plumped ...  

BERLIN (Reuters) - Support for Germany's opposition Social Democrats (SPD) has jumped since their victory in a regional election, a poll showed, highlighting the increased domestic pressure on Chancellor Angela Merkel as she battles the euro zone crisis.  

Chancellor Angela Merkel is being pushed by German states to share their borrowing costs to ease their budget squeeze, a policy she has opposed to confront the financial crisis in the rest of the euro region. The opposition Social Democrats plan ...  

It was prefigured by the famous photo from the cemetery at the great World War I battlefield of Verdun, which depicted the massive figure of Chancellor Helmut Kohl holding hands with the diminutive President Francois Mitterand. But what ...  

I asked Christine Lagarde about the euro crisis and whether it was time to issue eurobonds, she replied: "It's time for Angela Merkel to play her cards". And in response to David Cameron's ultimatum to Greece to leave or stay in the single ...  

BERLIN — Germany’s most populous state holds an election Sunday, with polls showing good chances of victory for a center-left regional government that Chancellor Angela Merkel has sought to label as irresponsibly spendthrift. About 13.2 ...  

Angela Merkel returns from one of her most difficult foreign trips in recent memory on Tuesday to face more, severe tests of her long-standing command over the policy agenda in Germany and Europe. The chancellor looked unusually isolated at a weekend G8 ...  

Berlin: Chancellor Angela Merkel's party faced a drubbing in Germany's most populous state on Sunday as voters cast ballots in a snap election that could provide impetus to her main rivals in the countdown to 2013 national polls. A week after ...  

Greek anti-bailout leader Alexis Tsipras may share more common ground with German Chancellor Angela Merkel when it comes to financial markets than suggested by his attacks on the austerity she demands. Contrast that with Merkel, who said in a ...  

German Chancellor Angela Merkel's center-right coalition is now on the knife edge as recent opinion polls showed a defeat for her party in regional elections in Germany’s most populous state. Right after a bad European week for Merkel’s coalition ...  

Germany’s Chancellor Angela Merkel returned to Berlin Tuesday to face more problems after her weekend meeting in the U.S. with world leaders from the Group of Eight nations and NATO highlighted her isolated position on austerity measures.  

Now it is the German Chancellor, Angela Merkel ... While Sarkozy loved to schmooze with billionaires and celebrities, Merkel is much more comfortable with the Mittelstand, the small businessmen and professionals who form the bedrock of her political ...  

I am utterly sick of the phrase "difficult decisions". It has become to political language what "hard-working families" was before the recession. It's pointless. At best, it is a euphemism for "cuts to public services" or "tax rises".  

A couple of pieces in the latest issue of IFR. Full article here: The day after the presidential election victory of Franςois Hollande in France, the front page of a leading German tabloid warned: “Good morning Chancellor. This is now...  

Cancelarul german Angela Merkel a calificat Ucraina drept "dictatura", pe fondul tensiunilor dintre cele doua tari pe tema incarcerarii liderului opozitiei de la Kiev, Iulia Timosenko. Intr-un discurs sustinut in camera inferioara a Parlamentului de la Berlin, Merkel a afirmat ca "Astazi traim liberi si in pace in Germania, la fel si in Uniunea Europeana, dar din pacate acest lucru nu se intampla in intreaga Europa: in Ucraina, ca si in...  

Commentators find Francois Hollande's first meeting with Angela Merkel lacked spark - despite a lightning strike First Reaction LAST UPDATED AT 08:52 ON Wed 16 May 2012 NEWLY installed French President Francois Hollande flew to Berlin yesterday for talks with German Chancellor Angela Merkel. The Guardian quipped that although Hollande's plane was struck by lightning, there was no spark between him and...  

Evening HeadlinesBloomberg: Merkel and Hollande Head for a Showdown on Debt at EU Summit. Germany and France, the leading economies in the 17-nation euro region, are headed for a showdown at the next European Union summit over their views on how to stem a debt crisis that threatens the survival of the single currency. German Chancellor Angela Merkel said she won’t shy away from disagreeing with French President Francois Hollande at the summit...  

CBC.caAngela Merkel's party humiliated by shock election defeatThe IndependentAngela Merkel's ruling conservatives suffered a humiliating defeat in key elections in Germany's most populous state yesterday when voters rejected her party's austerity policies and handed a resounding victory to her pro-growth Social Democratic Party ...Germany Downplays Importance Of First Hollande MeetingWall Street JournalAnalysis: European elections a warning...  

BERLIN — The world leaders who urged German Chancellor Angela Merkel this past weekend to back down from her unforgiving approach to Europe’s economic problems have something in common: They don’t answer to German voters. Amid increasingly raucous ...  

The relationship between David Cameron and Angela Merkel was testy even before the start of the Champions League football final on Sunday between Chelsea and Bayern Munich, which Chelsea won. In 1969 El Salvador and Honduras fought a war that ...  

When the Kohl government was defeated in the 1998 general election, Merkel was named Secretary-General of the CDU. In this position, Merkel oversaw a string of Christian Democrat election victories in six out of seven state elections in 1999 ...  

Athens, 20 May 2012 (MIA) - Greek political leaders reacted angrily yesterday to a suggestion, attributed to German Chancellor Angela Merkel, that the country hold a referendum on euro membership alongside an election next month, AFP reports. The ...  

The flames of the eurozone crisis leapt higher yesterday, as fears spread about the state of the Continent's most vulnerable banks.Related StoriesA journey through the heart of ItalyProsecution error sees Ratko Mladic trial delayed for monthsDavid Cameron to tell Angela Merkel she is the only person who can save the euroDavid Cameron to tell Angela Merkel she is the only person who can save euroVladimir Putin gives top government job to tank...  

Germany’s upper house voted to renegotiate a bill backed by Chancellor Angela Merkel that would cut subsidies for solar power after state leaders from her own party said the plan would threaten jobs. A majority of the 16 states represented in ...  

( DURCHGÄNGIG NEU) CAMP DAVID (Dow Jones)--Statt Schelte hat Kanzlerin Angela Merkel von ihren G-8-Kollegen Rückendeckung für ihre Europolitik erhalten: Zwar rief der Gipfel in Camp David die EU am Wochenende zu einer stärkeren Wachstumspolitik auf. Er unterstützte aber auch demonstrativ das Festhalten am Sparkurs...  

The Paris Bar, a popular haunt for west Berlin intellectuals of a certain age, was humming with conversation and the clink of glasses and cutlery last week as actors, theatregoers, artists and journalists sipped wine or tucked into steak frites in this ...  

Germany's chancellor has apparently waded into Greece's choppy political waters, with Athens saying Angela Merkel suggested that the country should hold a referendum on the euro together with next month's national elections.  

Once it was the French President, Charles de Gaulle, who always said “Non!” to the British. Now it is the German Chancellor, Angela Merkel, who is saying “Nein!” to the French. Across Europe, the peasants may be revolting against Angela’s ...  

BRUSSELS, May 21 (UPI) -- European leaders are drawing up eurozone debt-crisis plans already rejected by German Chancellor Angela Merkel, to discuss at a European Union summit. The proposals follow an agreement by Merkel and other European ...  

I doubt that Angela Merkel is looking forward to the G8 summit very much. It will mostly consist of the other world leaders telling her to give ground on austerity. But I suspect that Merkel won’t budge much, if at all. She clearly believes that the Greeks can be whipped into line by telling them that the election is really a referendum on euro membership. Hence both her suggestion of a simultaneous referendum on election-day and her backing...  

Chicago: British Prime Minister David Cameron savoured Chelsea’s win over German club Bayern Munich in the Champions League final on Sunday after watching the deciding penalty shootout with German Chancellor Angela Merkel at a summit in the United States.  

It is one thing to agree to something while under duress. It is quite another to do so from necessity Angela Merkel of Germany relented a bit on her stance of radical austerity for the eurozone’s weakest nations financially while at a G8 summit at Camp David. At least Obama hinted so. The joint statement [...]  

David Cameron will hold his first face-to-face talks with Francois Hollande today as they join world leaders in the US for a G8 summit set to be dominated by the eurozone crisis.Related StoriesA journey through the heart of ItalyProsecution error sees Ratko Mladic trial delayed for monthsDavid Cameron to tell Angela Merkel she is the only person who can save the euroDavid Cameron to tell Angela Merkel she is the only person who can save...  

Angela Merkel will compromise to save the euro. There is little doubt about that. But don’t expect her to make any moves just yet. Pressure on the German chancellor to cave in is certainly building and not only from a French president elected ...  

Moneycontrol.comGreek-German row erupts on referendum talkReuters| ATHENS (Reuters) - A Greek-German row broke out on Friday after Greece's government spokesman said Chancellor Angela Merkel raised the idea of Athens holding a referendum about its euro zone membership next month, which Berlin vehemently denied.Angela Merkel calls for Greek referendum on euroTelegraph.co.ukMerkel 'suggested Greece euro vote'The Press AssociationGermans deny...  

German chancellor Angela Merkel has warned Greece it must meet its bailout commitments as the runner-up in yesterday's split election rejected a coalition with the winning conservative party New Democracy. Angela Merkel reminded Greece of its bailout commitments during a press conference in Berlin (Picture: Reuters) New Democracy leader Antonis Samaras has three days to form a coalition before the responsibility passes to his...  

Telegraph.co.ukAngela Merkel prepares for an austerity backlash as key state goes to the pollsThe IndependentMore than 20ft high, rubber, inflatable and wobbling, the latest weapon in Chancellor Angela Merkel's relentless austerity drive looks uncannily like a children's bouncy castle. Yet it is currently touring Germany's most populous state ahead of this ...Merkel aide: no decisions in 1st talks with HollandeReutersMerkel faces election loss...  

German Chancellor Angela Merkel was on the spot at the Camp David summit as she faced growing pressure to shift her austerity-first approach after three years of a prolonged crisis that is roiling markets. French President Francois Hollande, making his ...  

(Financial Times)-- European leaders are drawing up a series of crisis-fighting proposals to raise at an informal EU summit this week that have in the past been rejected by Germany putting further pressure on Chancellor Angela Merkel. The ...  

There are weeks in the political life of Angela Merkel that were surely more pleasant than the last one. Last Sunday, the German chancellor's party suffered a big loss in the regional election of North Rhine-Westphalia. On Wednesday, she sacked ...  

"It sends a very strong message that the new French president is making his first trip abroad to Germany," Steffen Seibert told a regular government news conference Friday. "The chancellor is looking forward to close and friendly cooperation with the new ...  

German Chancellor Angela Merkel agreed to shift the euro area’s debt-crisis response toward economic growth, avoiding a showdown with her partners as the U.S. prods Europe to stem more than two years of market turmoil. With French President ...  

ANGELA Merkel is drawing up a rescue package to revive Greece's ailing economy with the blueprint used to transform East Germany after the fall of the Berlin Wall, it is claimed today. The German Chancellor's six-point plan is said to involve ...  

CBC.caState vote rout rings alarm for Merkel's partyXinhuaby Han Mo BERLIN, May 13 (Xinhua) -- With record low level of support, German Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservative Christian Democratic Union (CDU) suffered a setback in Sunday's vote in the country's most populous state.Are Germans rejecting austerity?ABC OnlineGerman state election deals blow to Angela Merkel's partyLos Angeles TimesMerkel's CDU suffer worst regional defeat in...  

CHICAGO (Reuters) - There are weeks in the political life of Angela Merkel that were surely more pleasant than the last one. Last Sunday, the German chancellor's party suffered a big loss in the regional election of North Rhine-Westphalia. On Wednesday ...  

Angela Merkel could be forgiven if she had taken to her bunker yesterday (Monday). It was, after all, the 67th anniversary of the German surrender to end the Second World War in Europe. There is little prospect of the German chancellor putting her hands up ...  

German Chancellor Angela Merkel asked Greek President Karolos Papoulias what he thought of the idea of holding a referendum on Greek membership in the euro but did not push it, a journalist who said he overheard their conversation wrote on Saturday.  

Fearing Europe's economic crisis will worsen - with dangerous repercussions for the US economy - Mr Obama risked the ire of German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who has championed an austerity-first approach. Shortly before welcoming leaders to the summit ...  

FRANKFURT: Germany's leading weekly Der Spiegel backed claims by Athens that Angela Merkel suggested Greece hold a referendum on euro membership alongside general polls, despite the chancellor's denial. The Greek caretaker prime minister' office ...  

German Chancellor Angela Merkel would be forgiven if she were found drunk under a bridge today after the weekend's votes in Europe. Not only did France opt for Socialist presidential candidate Francois Hollande and Greece choose anti-bailout ...  

Speaking after Merkel, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, parliamentary leader of the rival Social Democrats (SPD), accused the government of 'political lethargy' and said Germany had weathered the euro crisis well because previous governments had introduced 'a ...  

BERLIN (dpa-AFX) - Bundeskanzlerin Angela Merkel (CDU) hat mit dem griechischen Staatspräsidenten Karolos Papoulias über die dramatische Lage des Euro-Landes beraten. Dazu telefonierte Merkel am Freitagmorgen mit Papoulias, wie Vize-Regierungssprecher Georg Streiter in Berlin mitteilte. Die Kanzlerin habe noch einmal...  

In a speak to the German parliament, Mrs Merkel said: "Growth on credit would throw us back to the start of the crisis and therefore we will not do that." Reducing debts and bolstering growth were the "two pillars" of the crisis-fighting strategy, she ...  

BERLIN—Chancellor Angela Merkel’s conservatives were in danger of being ... was not enough to continue the CDU-FDP coalition in the state. SPD chairman Sigmar Gabriel, who may lead the SPD into the 2013 election against Merkel, added the SPD and ...  

You know how a couple of years ago, we were told that Europe would heal itself through tough spending cuts and fiscal austerity? Well, since then European voters have been systematically putting the kibosh on that plan, the latest example being the victory of Socialist Francois Hollande over Nicholas Sarkozy in France’s presidential election. Basically ...  

The weekend election of a Socialist French president on a platform of renegotiating the fiscal pact, German Social Democrats have refused to support parliamentary passage unless it includes growth as well as austerity measures. The German chancellor had ...  

A Greek-German row broke out on Friday after a Greek government spokesman said Chancellor Angela Merkel raised the idea of Athens holding a referendum about its euro zone membership next month, which Berlin vehemently denied. The confusion arose after a ...  

Tuesday's planned talks, confirmed to the AFP news agency by sources, will include a press conference and a working dinner and were expected to focus on the eurozone debt crisis. Mr Hollande is to formally become president of France on Tuesday, replacing ...  

As Greece prepared itself for new parliamentary elections, the sense of crisis was exacerbated by confusion over whether German Chancellor Angela Merkel had suggested a Greek referendum on keeping the euro. Merkel spoke with Greek President Karolos ...  

Hopes that Chancellor Angela Merkel will back down from her strict insistence on austerity are likely to be dashed despite mounting European criticism of her policy and a crushing state election defeat for her party on Sunday. Most Germans like how she has handled the crisis, say analysts.  

Crucial talks in Berlin between French President Francois Hollande and German Chancellor Angela Merkel have been delayed after Hollande's plane was hit by lightning Tuesday. The plane was forced to turn back to Paris, but Hollande is now on a second plane and is expected to arrive in Berlin 90 minutes late, around or after 7:30 pm, BBC reports. Hollande, who was just sworn in office, delivered an inauguration speech in Paris earlier, calling...  

Despite his anti-austerity rhetoric on the campaign trail and her open support for Nicolas Sarkozy, François Hollande and Angela Merkel are expected to make compromises during their first meeting on Tuesday. In the euro crisis, the pair has no choice but to get along.  

Germany’s Chancellor apparently waded into Greece’s choppy political waters, when Athens said Angela Merkel suggested that the country holds a referendum on euro membership along with next month’s elections. Berlin first refused to comment and then ...  

Germany's chancellor apparently waded into Greece's choppy political waters today, with Athens saying Angela Merkel suggested that the country should hold a referendum on the euro together with next month's national elections. Related StoriesVladimir Putin gives top government job to tank factory workerGreece to dissolve Parliament for new electionGreece to dissolve parliament for new electionEurope rocked by Spanish financial crisis as Moody...  

BERLIN (Reuters) - German Chancellor Angela Merkel asked Greek President Karolos Papoulias what he thought of the idea of holding a referendum on Greek membership in the euro but did not actively push for it, Bild newspaper reported on Saturday.  

To reach its strict climate targets and fulfill Chancellor Angela Merkel's nuclear exit plans, Germany needs to avoid coal and build a stack of gas power plants to secure clean energy supplies beyond 2020. Yet the challenge facing Merkel's new environment minister Peter Altmaier, his predecessor fired this week following a disastrous state election defeat, is finding a way to make gas an attractive option while coal remains the more profitable...  

The center-left in Germany has emerged from Sunday's crucial state vote strengthened and newly confident after crushing Angela Merkel's conservatives. It is a clear defeat for the chancellor, but there are pitfalls ahead for the Social Democrats as well.  

In the biggest challenge of her six-and-a-half years in office, German chancellor Angela Merkel walks a fine line between appearing to be a soft touch, and displaying a lack of commitment to the maintenance of the eurozone, writes Kyran Fitzgerald COULD ...  

Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservatives suffered a crushing defeat yesterday (13 May) in an election in Germany's most populous state, a result which could embolden the left opposition to step up attacks on her European austerity policies. More »  

German Chancellor Angela Merkel's Christian Democrats (CDU) are facing a tough task to avoid defeat in a key state election on Sunday. Opinion polls in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia suggest an emphatic re-election victory for the centre-left Social Democrats (SPD).  

Obama, joined by more partisan viewers in the form of British Prime Minister David Cameron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel, took a break from discussing fiscal crises and war to watched the thriller in Munich. The White House said the three leaders and ...  

Germany's chancellor has apparently waded into Greece's choppy political waters, with Athens saying Angela Merkel suggested that the country should hold a referendum on the euro together with next month's national elections.  

Germany's chancellor has apparently waded into Greece's choppy political waters, with Athens saying Angela Merkel suggested that the country should hold a referendum on the euro together with next month's national elections.  

Germany's chancellor has apparently waded into Greece's choppy political waters, with Athens saying Angela Merkel suggested that the country should hold a referendum on the euro together with next month's national elections.  

French and Greek elections have overthrown Angela Merkel, the German chancellor, as the dominant force in European politics, newspapers in Germany have concluded. "The hour of the extremists," warned Handelsblatt, Germany's financial newspaper, predicting that the defeat of pro-EU austerity parties in Greek elections will bring "an unparalleled political upheaval". … In an editorial, the newspaper warned that Greece could bring "political...  

German Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Saturday that Germany's economic health depends on that of the European Union, even though exports to the region are at a 20-year low. "We have to take advantage of our export opportunities. That means we must ...  

German Chancellor Angela Merkel was on the spot at the Camp David summit as she faced growing pressure to shift her austerity-first approach after three years of a prolonged crisis that is roiling markets. French President Francois Hollande ...  

When the Kohl government was defeated in the 1998 general election, Merkel was named Secretary-General of the CDU. In this position, Merkel oversaw a string of Christian Democrat election victories in six out of seven state elections in 1999 ...