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Christian Democratic Union (CDU)

Germany's strongest political party, currently headed by Friedrich Merz, was in power for most of the time since the end of World War II.

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SPD members vote by holding up a card at a party conference Photo: Hannibal/dpa

Tough coalition talks lead to government deal

It took a marathon 17-hour session of talks, but German parties agreed on a new government deal.
November 27, 201310 images
German Chancellor Angela Merkel (L) and German Social Democratic Party (SPD) leader Sigmar Gabriel (Photo: KAY NIETFELD/AFP/Getty Images)

Coalition talks push

Coalition talks aimed at forming Germany's next government have entered a nighttime finale. Closeted at a Berlin venue are 15 top politicians of Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservatives and opposition Social Democrats.
November 26, 2013
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Who are Germany's potential new leaders?

November 26, 201302:28 min
Members of the Christian Democratic Party (CDU) and the Christian Social Union (CSU) sit opposite members of the Social Democratic Partiy (SPD)during coalition talks at the CDU headquarters in Berlin on October 23, 2013. (Photo via JOHN MACDOUGALL/AFP/Getty Images)

Last push, several conflicts

German politicians from parliament's two main parties are in the final stages of establishing a "grand coalition" government. Another set of late-night talks are expected, along with a raft of unresolved issues.
November 26, 2013
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Coaltion Talks Enter Home Stretch

Tough coalition talks between the CDU and the SPD parties in Berlin are drawing to a close. Even when they get a deal, it still has to be approved by the SPD rank and file. And they are skeptical.
November 26, 201301:50 min
Tarek Al-Wazir sits at the beginning of the Greens party conference on 23.11.2013 Foto: Boris Roessler/dpa

Hesse Greens OK coalition talks

Members of Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservative party in the state of Hesse are set to hold coalition talks with the Greens. The environmentalist party approved entering negotiations at a congress in Frankfurt.
November 23, 2013
Horst Seehofer (photo via dpa)

Seehofer wins CSU chair

In a record show of support, Bavarian State Premier Horst Seehofer has been re-elected as the chair of the CSU. It marks his third straight nomination to head the party.
November 23, 2013
Berlin skyline during sunset. (Photo: R. Fuchs/ DW)

Coalition talks

Negotiators in Berlin are said to be close to reaching an agreement on forming a new government.
November 22, 2013
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German parties move closer to getting a coalition deal

Germany's main parties made progress in coalition talks on Thursday. Chancellor Merkel's conservatives and the Social Democrats want to have a government in place by Christmas.
November 21, 201301:35 min
Female members of the Lower Saxony state cabinet (Foto vom 01.02.11). (zu dapd-Text) Foto: Nigel Treblin/dapd

Female boardroom quota

Merkel's CDU/CSU and the Social Democrats agree on a quota for female company executives.
November 18, 2013
Visitors of internet conference re:publica in May 2013 (Photo: Stephanie Pilick/dpa)

Ministry of the Internet?

German politicians agree: Digital policy questions need to take higher priority.
November 17, 2013
Social Democrat chairman Sigmar Gabriel gestures during a 16.11.2013 speech at the party conference in Leipzig. (Photo via Hannibal/dpa)

Gabriel: 'I will need your help'

Social Democrat chairman Sigmar Gabriel has sought to rally party colleagues at their conference in Leipzig. The SPD is lagging after election defeat and amid difficult coalition talks with Angela Merkel's conservatives.
November 16, 2013
Andrea Nahles. Photo: Jan Woitas/dpa

Less than overwhelming approval

Germany’s Social Democrats have re-elected all of the members of the party’s leadership team who sought re-election. However, support for certain key players was down, a sign of some discontent among the delegates.
November 15, 2013
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German parties continue coalition talks

They want to have a government in place in just a month from now. But Germany's main political parties still have much to talk about. Agreement has been reached on some issues like infrastructure and energy. But many divisions remain, especially on the introduction of a controversial road toll.
November 12, 201301:22 min
A maroon-colored German passport lies atop an opened passport showing the crescent moon and star of the Turkish flag.

Notice of expatriation

Dual citizenship is offered to some citizens of Germany - but not to the largest migrant group.
November 9, 2013
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Große Politik in der bayerischen Landesvertretung

In Berlin tagt die dritte große Runde der Koalitionsgespräche zwischen Union und SPD. Gastgeber der Verhandlungsrunde war diesmal CSU-Chef Seehofer.
November 5, 201301:24 min

Coalition talks make progress

Germany's main parties face the nitty-gritty of a new government agenda.
November 5, 2013
Negotiators talk to reporters after the Coalition talks in Berlin on Oct 30, 2013. Foto: Maurizio Gambarini/dpa

Push for transaction tax

In EU policy, the new German government will support a financial transaction tax.
October 30, 2013
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Europe at stake as SPD and CDU bargain

In Berlin, the Social Democrats and the conservatives are preparing for more negotiations about their future government's policies.
October 30, 201301:29 min
Picture of smartphone with finger above it in mysterious lighting. 2013 Copyright Imago Avanti Communication

US defends spying activities

The United States has defended the use of mass surveillance in foreign countries as necessary to safeguard its own citizens. At the same time, a leading senator has called for a review of US intelligence programs.
October 29, 2013
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Germany wants answers over US 'spying'

Outrage is growing after media reports that the NSA has been spying on German institutions from a base at the US embassy.
October 28, 201302:00 min
German Chancellor and leader of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) Angela Merkel (R) and Leader of the Social Democratic Party (SPD) Sigmar Gabriel (L) attend the first round of coalition talks between Germany's conservative (CDU/CSU) parties and the SPD in Berlin October 23, 2013. REUTERS/Fabrizio Bensch

German coalition talks

German Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservative bloc and the main opposition SPD have held their first round of coalition talks. Participants spoke of a "positive" atmosphere at the meeting.
October 23, 2013
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Coalition talks start in Berlin

October 23, 201301:38 min
GettyImages 182027849 Chairman of the Social Democratic Party Sigmar Gabriel addresses reporters after an extraordinary party convention at the SPD headquarters in Berlin on September 27, 2013, ahead of coalition talks with German Chancellor's Christian Democratic Union. AFP PHOTO / JOHN MACDOUGALL (Photo credit should read JOHN MACDOUGALL/AFP/Getty Images)

Critical rank-and-file

Social Democrat party members oppose coalition talks with Merkel's Christian Democrats.
October 23, 2013
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Coalition talks start in Berlin

October 23, 201301:30 min
Bundeskanzlerin Angela Merkel (CDU) spricht am 22.10.2013 bei der konstituierenden Sitzung des Bundestags im Reichstagsgebäude in Berlin mit dem SPD-Bundesvorsitzenden Sigmar Gabriel (r). Bei der Sitzung kommen die Parlamentarier der 18. Legislaturperiode erstmals nach der Bundestagswahl im Plenum zusammen. Foto: Michael Kappeler/dpa

Coalition talks begin in Berlin

Germany's two largest parties, the CDU and the SPD, have begun coalition talks. Party leaders have shown a readiness for compromise, but not without putting their own parties' stamp on the final outcome.
October 23, 2013
The Bundestag lower house of parliament. Photo: Kay Nietfeld/dpa

Bundestag's inaugural meeting

Germany’s lower house of parliament is meeting for the first time since the general election. The session comes a day before Germany's two largest parties open coalition talks.
October 22, 2013
ARCHIV - Der Schauspieler Charles M. Huber, aufgenommen am 08.09.2012 in Darmstadt. Foto: Fredrik von Erichsen/dpa (zu dpa "Zweite Karriere - Ex-Krimi-Star Huber zieht für CDU in Bundestag" vom 24.09.2013) +++(c) dpa - Bildfunk+++

Charles M. Huber now German Christian Democrat deputy

A well-known German actor with African roots now has a seat in the German parliament.
PoliticsOctober 21, 2013
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Germany's SPD to start coalition talks

Germany's Social Democrats have voted in favor of joining in negotiations over a coalition government with the governing conservatives. If successful, the two parties would form a so-called "grand coalition", which would have an overwhelming parliamentary majority.
October 20, 201301:37 min
From above, hundreds of occupied seats form a half-circle facing a speaker's podium below a large pane of glass embossed with an eagle. Photo: Maurizio Gambarini

The loyal, little, opposition

Under a grand coalition, the opposition would be so weak that it's looking for constitutional help.
October 20, 2013

Missed opportunity

Conservatives and Greens could have cooperated to reshape energy policy, says DW's Volker Wagener.
October 18, 2013
FRANKFURT AM MAIN, GERMANY - SEPTEMBER 17: German Chancellor Angela Merkel sits inside a Opel Astra car at the Opel trade-show booth during the international motor show IAA on September 17, 2009 in Frankfurt am Main, Germany.The world's biggest auto show runs until September 27. (Photo by Miguel Villagran/Getty Images)

Party donations

Many critics think it's high time Germany's party donation rules were reformed.
October 18, 2013
German Chancellor Angela Merkel (C, top) arrives to meet party colleagues of her conservative CDU/CSU union for consultations ahead of a third round of exploratory talks with members of the social democratic SPD party on October 17, 2013 in Berlin. German Chancellor Angela Merkel faces a new headache after her search for a coalition partner turned into a one-horse race, forcing her to haggle with the emboldened Social Democrats. The Greens politely bowed out of further talks with Merkel's conservatives overnight, citing irreconcilable differences, leaving the Social Democrats (SPD) as Merkel's only potential partner, which will allow them to drive a harder bargain. AFP PHOTO / JOHN MACDOUGALL (Photo credit should read JOHN MACDOUGALL/AFP/Getty Images)

Third round of pre-coalition talks

The last round of exploratory talks between Chancellor Merkel's conservatives and the opposition Social Democrats has begun. Both sides say they must still find common ground to consider formal coalition negotiations.
October 17, 2013
ARCHIV - Bundeskanzlerin Angela Merkel (CDU, l) und Bundesumweltminister Sigmar Gabriel (SPD) unterhalten sich am Freitag (20.01.2006) im Bundestag. Union und SPD starten an diesem Freitag ihre Sondierungsgespräche über eine große Koalition - fast zwei Wochen nach der Bundestagswahl. Foto: Tim Brakemeier/dpa +++(c) dpa - Bildfunk+++

Social Democrats now only option for Merkel

October 16, 201301:28 min
Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU) and former Environment Minister Sigmar Gabriel (SPD) . Photo: Michael Kappeler/dpa +++(c) dpa - Bildfunk+++

Craving harmony

Despite tenuous majorities and diverse standpoints, German politics tends to strive for harmony.
October 16, 2013
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Talks fail between Merkel's Conservatives and the Greens

The Green Party has said no to a possible coalition with Angela Merkel's conservatives and it leaves just one option for Merkel as she searches for a new partner in government after last month's elections. That's the centre-left social democrats. We'll have more on the outlook from our political correspondent in a moment. But first this report on the day's talks with the Greens.
October 16, 201301:38 min
Merkel on a monitor next to Green party podiums in Berlin. Foto: Arno Burgi/dpa

Greens end exploratory talks

Germany's Green party has pulled out of talks on forming a coalition government with Angela Merkel's conservatives. The focus for the chancellor now shifts towards an alliance with the opposition Social Democrats.
October 16, 2013
German Chancellor Angela Merkel speaks next to the new BMW i3 electric car during the official opening of the Frankfurt Motor Show (IAA) in Frankfurt September 12, 2013. (Photo via REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach)

BMW's CDU donation under fire

The three major shareholders in the family company BMW have donated 690,000 euros to Chancellor Angela Merkel's Christian Democrats. The timing of the postelection windfall has prompted lobbying allegations.
October 15, 2013
Bayerns state premier Horst Seehofer (CSU, l-r), SPD faction chief Frank-Walter Steinmeier, SPD chairman Sigmar Gabriel and Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU) talk on 14.10.2013 in Berlin. Foto: Kay Nietfeld/dpa

Looking for a government

Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservative party has planned to meet with the main opposition Social Democrats for a third time as they look to form a coalition government. Marathon talks Monday yielded no concrete results.
October 15, 2013
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Conservatives, SPD meet for crunch talks

Angela merkel's CDU-CSU bloc met for a second round of exploratory coalition talks with the Social Democrats. Monday's session could shed light on how the next Merkel-led government will look, and when it might be sealed.
October 14, 201301:26 min
Members of Germany's conservative (CDU/CSU) parties arrive for preliminary coalition with the Social Democratic Party (SPD) at the Parliamentary Society in Berlin October 14, 2013. Merkel is likely to pick a new coalition partner this week before moving on to detailed negotiations that could produce a new German government within about two months.REUTERS/Tobias Schwarz (GERMANY - Tags: POLITICS TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY)

Merkel searches for coalition

German Chancellor Angela Merkel's drive to find a coalition partner continues this week, as Europe waits for clarity in its largest economy. Exploratory were held Monday with the Social Democrats.
October 14, 2013
Die Generalsekretaerin der SPD, Andrea Nahles, spricht am Montag (09.01.12) im Willy-Brandt-Haus in Berlin bei einer Pressekonferenz. Foto: Michael Gottschalk/dapd

SPD wants minimum wage law

A leading opposition Social Democrat says coalition talks with Chancellor Merkel's conservatives can begin only if they agree to introduce a minimum wage. The remarks came before the parties' second exploratory meeting.
October 13, 2013
Social Democratic Party (SPD) party leader Sigmar Gabriel (C) arrives with SPD party fellows at the Parliamentary Society for preliminary talks between Germany's conservative (CDU/CSU) parties and the SPD, in Berlin October 4, 2013. The SPD are seen as German Chancellor Angela Merkel's most likely partner, but they have said they will not be rushed into a deal. Merkel will also hold preliminary talks with the Greens next week, playing potential partners off against each other. Pictured also: SPD parliamentary faction leader Frank-Walter Steinmeier (L) Peer Steinbrueck (2nd L) Northrhine-Westphalia Prime Minister Hannelore Kraft (3rd R) party secretary general Andrea Nahles (2nd R) and Olaf Scholz (R) REUTERS/Tobias Schwarz (GERMANY - Tags: POLITICS)

A grand coalition is born?

After meeting Friday, the CDU/CSU and SPD may be close to a deal.
October 12, 201301:40 min
Party members of the environmental Greens party (Die Gruenen) arrive for preliminary coalition talks between Germany's conservative (CDU/CSU) parties and the environmental Greens party (Die Gruenen) at the Parliamentary Society in Berlin (photo via Reuters)

CDU, Greens agree to talk again

Chancellor Angela Merkel's Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and the environmentalist Green Party have agreed to a second round of exploratory talks. Both parties said the first round had gone better than expected.
October 10, 2013
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Greens 'skeptical' of coalition with CDU

The Green Party is still coming to terms with their electoral losses. There is a chance they could be picked to form a coalition government, but the two new parliamentary leaders have made clear there are big hurdles.
October 9, 201301:31 min
Social Democratic Party (SPD) party leader Sigmar Gabriel (C) arrives with SPD party fellows at the Parliamentary Society for preliminary talks between Germany's conservative (CDU/CSU) parties and the SPD, in Berlin October 4, 2013. The SPD are seen as German Chancellor Angela Merkel's most likely partner, but they have said they will not be rushed into a deal. Merkel will also hold preliminary talks with the Greens next week, playing potential partners off against each other. Pictured also: SPD parliamentary faction leader Frank-Walter Steinmeier (L) Peer Steinbrueck (2nd L) Northrhine-Westphalia Prime Minister Hannelore Kraft (3rd R) party secretary general Andrea Nahles (2nd R) and Olaf Scholz (R) REUTERS/Tobias Schwarz (GERMANY - Tags: POLITICS)

More exploratory coalition talks

After first talks on forming a possible coalition, Chancellor Merkel’s conservatives and the opposition Social Democrats have decided to hold another exploratory meeting. The mood at the talks was described as "open."
October 4, 201301:24 min
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Questions mount ahead of coalition talks

German Chancellor Angela Merkel has begun talks with the opposition SPD, as she looks to build a new coalition. The CDU scored a stunning victory in September's elections. However, their former coalition partners the FDP failed to gain enough votes to stay in parliament, leaving a grand coalition as the most likely alternative. But that would leave Germany with a weak political opposition.
October 4, 201302:47 min
Social Democratic Party (SPD) party leader Sigmar Gabriel (C) arrives with SPD party fellows at the Parliamentary Society for preliminary talks between Germany's conservative (CDU/CSU) parties and the SPD, in Berlin October 4, 2013. REUTERS/Tobias Schwarz

More exploratory coalition talks

After first talks on forming a possible coalition, Chancellor Merkel’s conservatives and the opposition Social Democrats have decided to hold another exploratory meeting. The mood at the talks was described as "open."
October 4, 2013
Angela Merkel and Sigmar Gabriel Photo: Tim Brakemeier/dpa +++(c) dpa - Bildfunk+++

Exploratory coalition talks

Leading members of Chancellor Merkel’s conservatives and the opposition Social Democrats are meeting to discuss the possibility of forming a coalition government. These preliminary talks are strictly exploratory.
October 4, 2013
A photo with red and green arrows symbolizes the coalition talks Photo: Julian Stratenschulte/dpa

Coalition quandry

As government coalition talks get underway, many questions remain for Merkel's potential partners.
October 4, 2013