Germany – Page 2 – Dr Oliver Hartwich

Merkel’s legacy still haunts German politics

04/02/2025

Published in Newsroom.co.nz (Wellington), 4 February 2025 If you believe last week’s hysterical headlines from Germany, you might think the far-right Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) is about to take power in Europe’s largest economy. The reality is more complicated. Last Wednesday, Christian Democratic Union (CDU) leader Friedrich Merz allowed a parliamentary statement on migration controls […]

President Barack Obama talks with German

Angela Merkel’s grim legacy casts long shadow across Europe

10/12/2024

Angela Merkel’s memoir highlights a lack of substance, reflection and vision.

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Merkel’s 16 years of tactical drift

26/11/2024

Angela Merkel reflects on her chancellorship, defending controversial decisions while failing to acknowledge their long-term consequences for Germany.

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My strange German addictions

15/11/2024

German politics can be baffling up close – but following its bureaucratic melodramas from New Zealand takes dedication bordering on the surreal.

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Germany’s traffic light coalition gets stuck on red

12/11/2024

The three-party coalition in Germany collapsed due to Olaf Scholz’s ineffective leadership, fiscal conflicts, and rising political tensions, jeopardising Germany’s stability amid global uncertainties.

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German solution for New Zealand’s local government woes

25/10/2024

Wellington’s governance struggles highlight misconceptions about mayoral power, suggesting New Zealand should adopt NRW’s reforms to enhance accountability and effectiveness in local democracy.

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Shades of 1933 in German state elections

03/09/2024

In recent elections in Germany, the far-right party AfD made significant gains due to concerns over immigration, crime, and a disillusionment with established politics. This has created political upheaval and will reshape future strategies on a national scale.

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Voter anger threatens to bury Germany’s traditional party-political system

20/08/2024

German state elections in Thuringia, Saxony, and Brandenburg have political significance beyond their size, with potential impact on federal dynamics and foreign policy.

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Dictators conspire: Oil, assassins, exploitation

06/08/2024

The recent prisoner exchange involving Russia, Belarus, and Western nations illuminates modern autocracies’ collaboration. Anne Applebaum’s book “Autocracy, Inc.” explores these interconnected challenges.

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A far-right falling out in Europe

28/05/2024

The far-right landscape in Europe undergoes a seismic shift as Marine Le Pen’s RN cuts ties with the AfD, aiming to distance itself from extremism and gain mainstream appeal.

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