The new chancellor received 395 votes for his candidacy. Scholz needed the support of at least 369 lawmakers – an absolute majority – out of 736 Bundestag MPs. The three-party government coalition he heads occupies 416 seats in the Lower House of the German Parliament. His election marks a major …
Read More »Merkel criticized for ‘dangerous’ call with Lukashenko over Belarus border crisis
Speaking on Wednesday, Lithuania’s top diplomat Gabrielius Landsbergis expressed concerns over the telephone conversation between Merkel and President Alexander Lukashenko which took place earlier this week. According to Landsbergis, the discussions were dangerous as the long-time Belarusian leader could use the opportunity “to legitimize himself.” He claimed that Lukashenko “will …
Read More »Belarus’ Lukashenko discusses border crisis with Germany’s Merkel – reports
The conversation was focused on the ongoing situation on the border between Belarus and two EU nations: Poland and Lithuania. The two leaders spoke for nearly an hour about ways to prevent potential escalation at the border, a Telegram channel, which is believed to be close to the Belarusian leader’s press …
Read More »Putin offers Merkel way to solve Belarus border migrant crisis
Putin told Merkel on Thursday that the European Union should resolve the migrant stalemate at the Polish-Belarus frontier in accordance with “international humanitarian law.” This is the second time the Russian president and the caretaker German chancellor have talked on the phone in the past two days. DETAILS TO FOLLOW
Read More »Merkel wants Putin to help solve Poland-Belarus border crisis
Speaking on Wednesday, Merkel’s spokesperson told the media that the outgoing German leader had held discussions with Putin about the Belarus border crisis. According to the spokesperson, Merkel said that Minsk’s “instrumentalization of migrants” was inhumane and called on the Russian president to press Belarus’ Alexander Lukashenko on the matter. …
Read More »Last day of 16-year job: Merkel relieved of duties, rule praised as ‘one of greatest periods in Germany’s modern history’ (VIDEO)
On Tuesday, Merkel officially left the role she has held for nearly 16 years. Already the second-longest serving Chancellor in German history, she will still effectively remain at the helm until a new government is formed. And the coalition talks could well continue into December, according to a number of …
Read More »Merkel warns against isolating Poland, calls on EU nations to find a compromise to prevent unwanted Polexit
Speaking at a summit of EU leaders in Strasbourg on Thursday, Germany’s soon-to-be former Chancellor, Angela Merkel, championed unity and compromise as other European leaders demanded Poland be punished for its moves to prioritize national law over that of the EU. The veteran leader warned that a drawn-out political and …
Read More »Taliban recognition still off the table for Berlin, Merkel says as EU pledges $1.2 billion in aid to Afghanistan
The Taliban militants did not form the inclusive government required by the international community, the chancellor said on Tuesday following a G20 video conference. The question of the Taliban’s political recognition is, thus, not on her agenda for the moment, she added. “Nevertheless, there should and must be talks,” she …
Read More »As Merkel fashions her exit, the blocking of RT’s German-language YouTube may not be the only Russia crisis her successor inherits
On Tuesday, YouTube banned two channels belonging to RT’s German-language affiliates in a move that the Russian Foreign Ministry has said amounts to “censorship” and “aggression.” The response has been furious, with Moscow threatening to block the site altogether and insisting it could have only taken place with the “obvious …
Read More »Conservative wing of Merkel’s bloc says party leadership must resign after ‘debacle’ in Germany’s general election
“The board of directors and party leaders of the CDU and CDU must draw the conclusions from the election debacle in the federal elections on September 26, 2021 and resign immediately,” the party’s informal conservative wing, the Values Union, said in a statement. The group argued that Armin Laschet, the …
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