Angela Merkel

Musk plans discussion with German far-right leader on X – POLITICO

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Musk plans discussion with German far-right leader on X – POLITICO

Musk’s endorsements of Trump have prompted a major backlash in Germany, with mainstream political leaders arguing they amount to election interference. Given Musk’s ties to United States President-elect Donald Trump, one opponent suggested that interference may be coming from the incoming American administration. The German government must clarify “whether the repeated disrespect, defamation and interference … Read more

2024 by the numbers ― from victims of war to a warming planet – POLITICO

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2024 by the numbers ― from victims of war to a warming planet – POLITICO

At the other end of Europe, Russia’s war in Ukraine continues. Ukrainians chalked up some successes in 2024, becoming a dominant force in the Black Sea despite the country’s tiny navy, and mounting a counteroffensive into Russia’s Kursk region in August. But they are ending this year on the back foot, having lost many of … Read more

POLITICO’s 2024 Backhanded Awards

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POLITICO’s 2024 Backhanded Awards

POLITICO’s 2024 Backhanded Awards There has never been a more deserving set of “winners.” By EDDY WAX Illustration by Ellie Foreman-Peck for POLITICO The Ursula von der Leyen Award for Not Being Charles Michel: António Costa Charles Michel has left office with a unique legacy: He’s the only European Council president to have quit twice.  … Read more

German troops must be ‘fit’ for war if Putin attacks, Defense Minister Pistorius says – POLITICO

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German troops must be ‘fit’ for war if Putin attacks, Defense Minister Pistorius says – POLITICO

“If Putin attacks, we must be fit to wage war,” Pistorius said in the interview published on Saturday. The minister’s comments come amid a push for NATO members to increase their defense spending, with new NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte saying alliance members need to spend “much more” on defense than the current target of 2 … Read more

Top Ukrainian MP to Merkel: Enough already – POLITICO

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Top Ukrainian MP to Merkel: Enough already – POLITICO

Merkel has also called to explore a diplomatic solution to the war at some point, though the leadership in Ukraine says that Moscow cannot be trusted to negotiate in good faith. “It is not only in the interest of Ukraine, but also in our interest that Putin does not win this war,” Merkel told German … Read more

Merkel eviscerates ‘emotional’ Trump in upcoming memoir – POLITICO

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Merkel eviscerates ‘emotional’ Trump in upcoming memoir – POLITICO

“He judged everything from the perspective of the property entrepreneur he had been before politics,” she wrote of Trump. “Each property could only be allocated once. If he didn’t get it, someone else did. That was also how he looked at the world.” “For him, all countries were in competition with each other, in which … Read more

If you think Trump’s migration policies are extreme, look at the EU’s – POLITICO

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If you think Trump’s migration policies are extreme, look at the EU’s – POLITICO

“A new wind is blowing in Europe,” said the Dutch anti-Islam, anti-immigration, populist Freedom Party leader Geert Wilders in Brussels on Thursday after a meeting of far-right leaders. Migration has been at the forefront for Europe’s politicians since 2015, when more than a million migrants, many of them Syrians fleeing war, made their way to … Read more

Macrons (fast) große Dresden-Rede – POLITICO

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Macrons (fast) große Dresden-Rede – POLITICO

Der französische Präsident Emmanuel Macron hat seine viel erwartete Rede vor der Frauenkirche gehalten. Sie sollte eines der Highlights des Staatsbesuches werden. Wie gelungen war die Rede, vor allem aber: Was davon wird bei den Deutschen und vor allem der deutschen Politik hängen bleiben? Darum geht es heute unter anderem im Playbook-Podcast. Zusammen mit POLITICO-Europaexperte … Read more

Scholz and Macron to hold secret dinner in Paris ahead of Xi’s visit – POLITICO

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Scholz and Macron to hold secret dinner in Paris ahead of Xi’s visit – POLITICO

Scholz and Macron have repeatedly clashed in recent years, most recently in February when the French president opened the door to potentially sending ground troops to Ukraine, which the chancellor strongly rejected. A key topic of the discussion will be the visit of Xi, who arrives in France on Sunday for three days before heading … Read more

Which European politicos would shoot a puppy?  – POLITICO

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Which European politicos would shoot a puppy?  – POLITICO

Traian Băsescu Băsescu, a former sea captain and legendary dog-slayer, triggered an international outcry — including from film legend Brigitte Bardot — in 2001 when as Bucharest mayor he ordered hundreds of stray dogs to be rounded up and killed. At the time Bucharest had as many as 200,000 roaming stray dogs, according to media … Read more