German politics

She fled during Assad's regime. Now this Syrian activist is considering going home

7:14am December 12, 2024

Germany hosts almost a million Syrians who fled war and dictatorship. The toppling of the Assad regime has raised questions for exiles about their next step.

Queue Listen Now

Deputies of Ensemble pour la République shout to the left-

France's toppled government adds to the European Union's bigger political problems

5:29pm December 05, 2024

The political instability in France — and simultaneously in Germany, where the governing coalition collapsed a month ago — could have wide-ranging consequences.

Queue Listen Now

Germany's coalition government collapses as Chancellor Scholz fires his finance chief

5:45pm November 06, 2024

Chancellor Olaf Scholz has fired Finance Minister Christian Lindner, signaling a collapse of the three-party coalition governing Germany. Opposition leaders are calling for quick elections.

Queue Listen Now

5 takeaways from Germany's regional elections after far right makes historic gains

6:38am September 02, 2024

The Alternative for Germany party made huge gains in two eastern states, handing the German far right its best results since World War II.

Queue Listen Now

A German far-right party wins its first state election

2:32pm September 01, 2024

The far-right Alternative for Germany won a state election for the first time Sunday in the country's east, and was set to finish at least a very close second in a second vote, projections showed.

Members of three German parties at the signing of a coalition agreement are (from left) Social Democrats Norbert Walter-Borjan, Saskia Esken and new Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Free Democrat Christian Lindner, and the Green party's Robert Habeck and Annalena

World News

What you need to know about Germany's new chancellor and coalition government

2:56pm December 08, 2021

by Rob Schmitz

Social Democratic politician Olaf Scholz takes over from center-right Angela Merkel as chancellor to lead a coalition of three different parties in government.

Queue Listen Now

Social Democratic Party leader Olaf Scholz is the front-runner in the polls to succeed German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

World News

This Is The Candidate To Beat In The Race To Become Germany's Next Leader

5:03am September 14, 2021

by Rob Schmitz

Social Democratic Party leader Olaf Scholz, the front-runner in the polls to succeed German Chancellor Angela Merkel, is credited for transforming Hamburg when he was the city's mayor.

Tareq Alaows stands in front of the Bundestag, Germany's parliament, in Berlin. Alaows came to Germany as an asylum-seeker from Syria in 2015. He launched a campaign to run in Germany's federal election in September for the Green Party but recently withdr

World News

Germany Grapples With Racism After Threats Derail Refugee's Candidacy For Parliament

6:00pm April 21, 2021

by Esme Nicholson

A Syrian refugee in Germany withdrew his bid for parliament over racist threats last month. The news came in the same week that a German comedian appeared on TV in blackface.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel speaks during a news conference at the conclusion of a European Union summit in Brussels, Dec. 13.

World News

How The 2010s Were Angela Merkel's Decade

7:26am December 26, 2019

by Rob Schmitz

Between the financial crisis and record refugees, the long-serving chancellor "kept a steady hand during a tumultuous time," says one biographer.

Queue Listen Now

German Chancellor Angela Merkel has had to readjust her government's approach to trans-Atlantic relations.

World News

'Washington Has Become Much Rougher': Germany Is Still Recalibrating With Trump

2:30pm February 27, 2019

by Simon Schütz

Senior officials in Berlin who oversee the trans-Atlantic relationship tell NPR there continue to be concerns about the "German-bashing we hear out of Washington."