Olaf Scholz

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.

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'End of an era': Biden heads for a farewell trip to Germany. Here's what to know

5:00am October 17, 2024

It's expected to be a meeting of great political importance — especially for Europe.

Ukrainian soldiers fire a self-propelled howitzer towards Russian positions near Bakhmut, Donetsk region, Ukraine, Sunday.

Latest in Ukraine: All eyes on Bakhmut as Russia fights to take it over (March 6)

11:13am March 06, 2023

by NPR Staff

Catch up on key developments and the latest in-depth coverage of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz stands next to a Leopard 2 main battle tank of the German armed forces while visiting an army training center in Ostenholz, Germany, on Oct. 17, 2022.

Germany agrees to send its Leopard battle tanks to Ukraine after weeks of pressure

11:13am January 25, 2023

by Rob Schmitz

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz announced Wednesday his country will export more than a dozen of its Leopard 2 battle tanks to Ukraine. The move follows weeks of pressure from western allies.

Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi (left), German Chancellor Olaf Scholz (second left), Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy (center), French President Emmanuel Macron (second right), and Romanian President Klaus Iohannis meet at the Ukrainian preside

Ukraine's Zelenskyy hosts European leaders, welcomes more U.S. weapons

1:16pm June 16, 2022

Ukraine says it urgently needs the heavy artillery to counter Russia on the battlefield. Also, President Zelenskyy is looking for additional support as the leaders of Germany, France and Italy visit.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, right, and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau hold a joint news conference Sunday in Kyiv, Ukraine. Earlier in the day, Trudeau visited the suburb of Irpin to look at devastation left in the wake of Russia's inv

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World leaders weighed in on the war in Ukraine on Victory in Europe Day

12:46pm May 09, 2022

Chancellor Olaf Scholz warned peace is impossible under Russian dictatorship, saying "freedom and security will win the day, just as freedom and security triumphed over oppression, ... 77 years ago."

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, right, speaks to German Chancellor Olaf Scholz during their meeting at The Mariinskyi Palace in Kyiv, Ukraine, on Monday. Scholz visited Ukraine as part of a flurry of Western diplomacy aimed at heading off a feare

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German chancellor warns of far-reaching sanctions if Russia moves on Ukraine

9:58pm February 14, 2022

Olaf Scholz did not elaborate on specifics during his meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Monday but he did pledge a new round of financial assistance to Kyiv.

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

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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.

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Supporters of Germany's Green Party celebrate after estimates were broadcast on television in Berlin at their electoral party on Sunday after the German general elections.

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Smaller, Younger Parties Will Likely Determine Who Runs Germany's Next Government

6:14pm September 27, 2021

by Rob Schmitz

It will likely take three parties to form a government. Two smaller parties — an environmentalist, progressive party and a libertarian party — appear to be banding together to call the shots.

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

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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.