Latest news with #ChristianDemocratic
Local Germany
3 days ago
- Politics
- Local Germany
Germany's top diplomat seeks common stance with US on Ukraine
Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul, who assumed his role this month as centre-right Chancellor Friedrich Merz took office, met in Washington with Secretary of State Marco Rubio. "We, Germany and the United States, have a common position regarding Ukraine," Wadephul told reporters after the meeting. "We need to find a negotiated solution." US President Donald Trump took office vowing to end the war and blaming his predecessor Joe Biden for the invasion. But Trump has voiced growing frustration with Russian President Vladimir Putin, who has not accepted a Ukrainian-backed US proposal of a 30-day ceasefire. Wadephul said that Europeans were ready to "tighten the screws" on Russia and noted that sanctions bills are being prepared in the US Congress. "Both Europe and the United States are willing to draw consequences if this does not happen," he said of Russia coming to the negotiation table. Merz earlier Wednesday said that Germany will "do everything" to make sure that the damaged Nord Stream 2 pipeline from Russia does not resume deliveries of natural gas to Europe. The stance shows the sharp shift in Germany since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022. The last Christian Democratic chancellor, Angela Merkel, had rebuffed pressure from the United States and supported the pipeline, arguing that it not only provided energy to Europe's largest economy but incentivized Russia to work with Europe. Advertisement Merz has also voiced growing concern about Israel's offensive in Gaza, where aid has begun to enter in a heavily controlled trickle after a two-month blockade. The situation in Gaza has become "dramatically more precarious," Wadephul said. Germany and the United States have traditionally been among Israel's top supporters. Wadephul in Washington visited a makeshift memorial outside the Capital Jewish Museum where a gunman last week shot dead two Israeli embassy employees. Wadephul was visiting as Rubio celebrated his 54th birthday. As a gift, the German FM presented Rubio with a framed poster of a game played in Frankfurt by the sports-loving top US diplomat's hometown Miami Dolphins.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Germany's top diplomat seeks common stance with US on Ukraine
Germany's new top diplomat on Wednesday sought to stress unity with the United States on Ukraine, warning of further sanctions if Russia does not budge in stalled negotiations to end the war. Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul, who assumed his role this month as center-right Chancellor Friedrich Merz took office, met in Washington with Secretary of State Marco Rubio. "We, Germany and the United States, have a common position regarding Ukraine," Wadephul told reporters after the meeting. "We need to find a negotiated solution." US President Donald Trump took office vowing to end the war and blaming his predecessor Joe Biden for the invasion. But Trump has voiced growing frustration with Russian President Vladimir Putin, who has not accepted a Ukrainian-backed US proposal of a 30-day ceasefire. Wadephul said that Europeans were ready to "tighten the screws" on Russia and noted that sanctions bills are being prepared in the US Congress. "Both Europe and the United States are willing to draw consequences if this does not happen," he said of Russia coming to the negotiation table. Merz earlier Wednesday said that Germany will "do everything" to make sure that the damaged Nord Stream 2 pipeline from Russia does not resume deliveries of natural gas to Europe. The stance shows the sharp shift in Germany since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022. The last Christian Democratic chancellor, Angela Merkel, had rebuffed pressure from the United States and supported the pipeline, arguing that it not only provided energy to Europe's largest economy but incentivized Russia to work with Europe. Merz has also voiced growing concern about Israel's offensive in Gaza, where aid has begun to enter in a heavily controlled trickle after a two-month blockade. The situation in Gaza has become "dramatically more precarious," Wadephul said. Germany and the United States have traditionally been among Israel's top supporters. Wadephul in Washington visited a makeshift memorial outside the Capital Jewish Museum where a gunman last week shot dead two Israeli embassy employees. Wadephul was visiting as Rubio celebrated his 54th birthday. As a gift, the German FM presented Rubio with a framed poster of a game played in Frankfurt by the sports-loving top US diplomat's hometown Miami Dolphins. oer-sct/aha
Economist
06-05-2025
- Politics
- Economist
Friedrich Merz becomes Germany's chancellor—after a painful defeat
CHANGES OF POWER in Germany are usually bland affairs, lacking the pomp of those in France or America. The morning of May 6th was meant to be a routine final stage in the choreography of the handover of power to Friedrich Merz as chancellor, with a vote of MPs in the Bundestag, the lower house of parliament. Having led his Christian Democratic bloc to victory in February's election, and then struck a coalition deal with the Social Democrats (SPD), Mr Merz simply required a majority of MPs to anoint him. Mr Merz's ranks and the SPD together command 328 votes in the 630-seat chamber; a majority that looked slim but safe. But when Julia Klöckner, the president of the Bundestag and a Merz ally, announced the result, it was a bombshell. Mr Merz had secured just 310 votes, six short of a majority. At least 18 of his coalition's MPs had turned against him.
Russia Today
06-05-2025
- Politics
- Russia Today
Political chaos as German coalition fails to elect chancellor
Germany's main political parties have failed to elect an agreed candidate as chancellor in a historic moment for the EU nation's politics A proposed coalition of Germany's liberal and conservative parties has failed to elect a chancellor in a German parliament first round vote. Frederich Merz, the Christian Democratic candidate who was also backed by the liberal SPD, garnered 310 votes on Tuesday, falling six short of the 316 needed for an absolute majority. The session was adjourned for consultations among political groups regarding their next steps.
Times
02-05-2025
- Politics
- Times
Stanislaw Gebhardt, 96: Charismatic Polish veteran of the Christian Democratic movement
In his discreet yet influential way, Stanislaw Gebhardt, the Polish exile and veteran of the Christian democratic movement, spent a lifetime working behind the scenes to promote democracy across the world. Through his efforts, leading political and religious figures from vastly different ideologies found common ground. Yet it was the political activist's work in Latin America and Africa that brought him the most satisfaction. In the late 1950s, he played a pivotal role in organising the first Latin American Christian Democratic conference, helping countries to navigate the ideological tensions of the Cold War between the United States and the Soviet Union. For his lifelong dedication, he received several prestigious honours, including the Order of Bernardo O'Higgins from Chile, the Order of the Liberator from Venezuela,
