Politics of Germany

Greek opposition leader met with German Chancellor Angela Merkel on the sidelines of the European People's Party summit in Brussels, during which they discussed key aspects of the migration crisis, reports said Friday.

Solving problems between Germany and Turkey is in the interest of both sides, as officials continue to discuss concrete issues, a close aide of Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Dec. 14.

Europe is not ready for a federal system, trusted allies of Chancellor Angela Merkel's Christian Democrats (CDU) have said, rejecting a vision for the continent as proposed by Martin Schulz of the Social Democratic Party (SPD), a former coalition partner.

The leader of Germany's Social Democrats (SPD) said on Dec. 4 he would launch talks with Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservatives on forming a government next week if members of his center-left party gave him the green light at a congress this weekend.

Germans see U.S. President Donald Trump as a bigger challenge for German foreign policy than authoritarian leaders in North Korea, Russia or Turkey, according to a survey by the Koerber Foundation, quoted by Reuters. 

Topping the list of foreign policy concerns were refugees, with 26 percent of respondents worried about Germany's ability to cope with inflows of asylum seekers.

Germany's center-left Social Democrats agreed to enter into talks with Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservatives about possibly forming a new government, according to a report Monday.

SPD leadership met Monday and unanimously decided on opening talks with Merkel's Christian Democrats and its Bavarian sister party, the Christian Social Union, Reuters reported.

Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras has sent a text message to Germany's Social Democratic leader Martin Schulz urging him to join a grand coalition with Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservatives.

In an interview with local media, the SPD chief said that Greece's leftist prime minister had urged him not to let "this deciding phase in Europe go to pass."

German Chancellor Angela Merkel won the national election for the fourth time in September. However, she is yet to form a stable government in Berlin. Many people in Germany and other European countries feel that Germany is heading towards a snap poll.

Germany will cut its diplomatic mission to Pyongyang and demand North Korea to reduce its presence in Berlin, Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel said after meeting with his US counterpart, reports sega. 

Martin Schultz, the leader of the German Social Democrats, is willing to participate in the negotiations for a broad coalition government of Angela Merkel. The consultations are resumed on Thursday, bTV announced.