Berlin, February 17, 2025 – Following Sunday's general election, conservative leader Friedrich Merz is working to establish a new coalition government within eight weeks, according to local media reports.
Bild newspaper reported that Merz initiated informal preliminary talks by contacting Social Democratic Party parliamentary group leader Lars Klingbeil on Sunday night, signaling an eagerness to explore coalition possibilities.
The Christian Democrats (CDU/CSU) emerged as the clear winner with 28.5% of the vote, yet they fell short of an absolute majority necessary to govern alone. In response, Merz has ruled out any coalition talks with the far-right AfD, which secured 20.8% of the vote—their best performance to date—citing fundamental differences on democratic principles and key policy issues.
Despite the Social Democrats receiving only 16.4% of the vote, their party is seen as a potential coalition partner. Media reports suggest that a CDU/CSU-SPD alliance would command 328 seats in the Bundestag, exceeding the 316 seats required for a majority. Informal discussions among top party officials have reportedly begun ahead of the upcoming Easter holiday, with plans for formal exploratory talks to start on or after March 6. This delay is partly attributed to regional elections taking place in Hamburg this weekend.
Merz has indicated that his goal is to have a new coalition government in place by mid-April, a timeline that would ensure continued political stability as the country transitions from the election period. As coalition negotiations progress, the focus remains on securing a stable majority while upholding democratic values and addressing key policy challenges.
German Economy Minister Robert Habeck has strongly condemned the newly announced US tariffs, warning that they could trigger an economic downturn, lead to a global recession, and disrupt international trade.
Ilham Aliyev, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, and Frank-Walter Steinmeier, President of the Federal Republic of Germany, made press statements and responded to journalists’ questions. The President of Azerbaijan made the statement first.
On April 2, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, President of the Federal Republic of Germany, accompanied by his wife Elke Büdenbender, visited the Alley of Martyrs in Baku to honor the Azerbaijani heroes who sacrificed their lives for the country’s independence and territorial integrity.
An official welcome ceremony was held in Azerbaijan on April 2 for German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, where he was greeted with a guard of honor and national anthems as part of his diplomatic visit.
U.S. President Donald Trump’s inner circle is advising him against speaking with Russian President Vladimir Putin unless Russia commits to a full ceasefire in Ukraine, NBC News reported on Thursday, citing administration officials.
Kirill Dmitriev, Russian President Vladimir Putin’s investment envoy, is visiting Washington this week for talks with members of the Trump administration, sparking fresh speculation over behind-the-scenes diplomacy between Moscow and Washington.
A Russian drone strike hit residential buildings in Kharkiv late on Thursday, killing at least two people and injuring 32 others, Ukrainian officials said, as nightly attacks on the country's cities continue to mount.
In Sydney’s Bennelong, where Chinese Australians make up a large share of the electorate, the fight for votes is playing out on unexpected turf: Xiaohongshu.
Leaders from Central Asia and the European Union will meet in Samarkand on April 4 for the first-ever EU-Central Asia Summit, aimed at deepening ties. Talks will focus on trade, investment, green energy, and security — marking a new era of cooperation.
Aid groups in Myanmar’s worst-hit areas urgently need shelter, food, and water after a devastating 7.7 magnitude earthquake killed over 2,700 people. Rescue efforts face challenges due to ongoing civil war, damaged infrastructure, and restricted aid access, with the toll expected to rise.
French far-right leader Marine Le Pen was banned from running for public office for five years after being convicted of embezzlement, ruling her out of the 2027 presidential race. She received a four-year prison sentence, with two years suspended, and a €100,000 fine. Le Pen plans to appeal.
The Armenian armed forces attempted three reconnaissance drone flights over Azerbaijan Army positions near Gerenzur, but all were successfully intercepted. Meanwhile, Armenian units repeatedly fired on Azerbaijani positions from multiple regions, escalating tensions in the area.
Apple marked its 49th anniversary by reaching a market capitalization of $3.3 trillion. Despite recent tech stock volatility, Apple's shares surged 28% in 2024.
U.S. President Donald Trump’s inner circle is advising him against speaking with Russian President Vladimir Putin unless Russia commits to a full ceasefire in Ukraine, NBC News reported on Thursday, citing administration officials.
Kirill Dmitriev, Russian President Vladimir Putin’s investment envoy, is visiting Washington this week for talks with members of the Trump administration, sparking fresh speculation over behind-the-scenes diplomacy between Moscow and Washington.
A Russian drone strike hit residential buildings in Kharkiv late on Thursday, killing at least two people and injuring 32 others, Ukrainian officials said, as nightly attacks on the country's cities continue to mount.
In Sydney’s Bennelong, where Chinese Australians make up a large share of the electorate, the fight for votes is playing out on unexpected turf: Xiaohongshu.
The United States is relapsing into an old identity. In 2025, President Donald Trump revived the strategy that once defined the American economy — tariffs. For more than a century, from 1789 to 1913, tariffs powered U.S. government revenues and protected domestic industry.
U.S. President Donald Trump’s inner circle is advising him against speaking with Russian President Vladimir Putin unless Russia commits to a full ceasefire in Ukraine, NBC News reported on Thursday, citing administration officials.
Kirill Dmitriev, Russian President Vladimir Putin’s investment envoy, is visiting Washington this week for talks with members of the Trump administration, sparking fresh speculation over behind-the-scenes diplomacy between Moscow and Washington.
A Russian drone strike hit residential buildings in Kharkiv late on Thursday, killing at least two people and injuring 32 others, Ukrainian officials said, as nightly attacks on the country's cities continue to mount.
In Sydney’s Bennelong, where Chinese Australians make up a large share of the electorate, the fight for votes is playing out on unexpected turf: Xiaohongshu.
Leaders from Central Asia and the European Union will meet in Samarkand on April 4 for the first-ever EU-Central Asia Summit, aimed at deepening ties. Talks will focus on trade, investment, green energy, and security — marking a new era of cooperation.
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