SPD

What's next for Germany after Merkel's coalition breakthrough?

Berlin - Emirates voice

Germany inched toward a new government Friday as Chancellor Angela Merkel and the centre-left Social Democrats agreed to move ahead with formal talks to build a coalition. The in-principle pact after months of paralysis averts the unpopular prospect of snap elections for now, but there are still several hurdles to clear, some of which may prove perilous. - SPD party meet -Read more

What's next for Germany after Merkel's coalition breakthrough?

Berlin - Emiratesvoice

German alliance likely to oust Merkel’s conservatives in Saarland state

Saarbruecken, Germany - Arab Today

When voters head to the polls in the German state of Saarland later this month, they are likely to deliver an upset to Chancellor Angela Merkel that could be a foretaste of September’s national election. One of Germany’s smallest states, Saarland is — like federal Germany — currently governed by a “grand coalition” of Merkel’s conservatives and the Social DemocratsRead more

Germany’s Schulz to set out plan for taking down Merkel

BERLIN - Arab today

Martin Schulz on Sunday officially was to become Chancellor Angela Merkel’s chief challenger in Germany’s September general election and would lay out his plans for unseating the world’s most powerful woman. The bearded Social Democrat, already credited with giving his ailing party a strong shot in the arm, was set to be anointed SPD leader and standard bearer at aRead more

Schulz to rival Merkel in German election

Berlin - Arab Today

Germany’s Social Democrats unexpectedly named former European Parliament chief Martin Schulz as their candidate for the chancellorship on Tuesday, raising the stakes in a September election that promises to be Angela Merkel’s toughest yet. The announcement came after SPD party leader and vice-chancellor Sigmar Gabriel surprised observers by saying he would step aside to make room for Schulz, conceding thatRead more

Economy minister Gabriel to challenge Merkel

Berlin - AFP

German Economy Minister Sigmar Gabriel has decided to challenge Chancellor Angela Merkel in this year's election, the top-selling Bild newspaper reported Tuesday citing sources from his Social Democrats. Gabriel, 57, currently serves as Merkel's vice-chancellor and holds the economy brief, and leads the Social Democratic Party (SPD), junior partner in Merkel's right-left coalition government. Merkel, 62, who remains popular despiteRead more

German officials warn Facebook of fines over fake news

Berlin - Xinhua

German officials have recently threatened to fine Facebook over hate speech and fake news, local media reported. Thomas Oppermann, parliamentary leader of Germany's center-left Social Democratic Party (SPD), on Friday told Der Spiegel that tougher measures should be designed against the spread of offending and fake messages. "If after taking the necessary checks Facebook doesn't promptly remove the offending messagesRead more