Will Angela Merkel's government survive 2012? That will depend largely on the fate of the euro, as well as the management of a coalition on the verge of collapse and a recent home loan scandal involving Germany's president. An upcoming election in Schleswig-Holstein may also be a decisive factor as to whether the Conservative-Liberal coalition makes it through the New Year. Anne Mailliet and Brice Boussouar report.
There are growing calls for the European Central Bank to use its financial resources to douse the continent's debt crisis. Mario Draghi and his predecessor Jean-Claude Trichet have so far been reticent. But speaking in the European Parliament, Draghi was seen to open the door to bolder action.
Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservatives look headed for hefty losses in Sunday's regional elections in the city-state of Berlin. The centre-left Social Democrats are tipped to remain in control with either the Greens or the Left party.
As anti-Gaddafi fighters look to seize the former leader’s remaining strongholds, European countries eye Libya’s oil reserves. It's a favourite tourist destination for Germans, yet the Mecklenberg West Pomerania region has become a haven for far right groups. A Dutch TV game show sees illegal immigrants go head to head for cash prizes.
Polls opened Sunday in the north-eastern German state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, with the ruling CDU party of Chancellor Angela Merkel hoping to stop the rot after a string of defeats in regional polls this year.
Far-right groups have been gaining support in a region of eastern Germany. The NPD party has a firm following in the area of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, despite its leader having been convicted of racial abuse. The trend has both local and national observers concerned. Our correspondent takes a closer look at the growing popularity of Germany's far-right ahead of regional elections this weekend.
Angela Merkel has been hailed as the world's most powerful woman by Forbes, but is not so popular back home. Also, we look at how the Italian government plans to try to curb tax evasion. Finally, Abkhazia, which is only recognized by four other countries, has just elected a new president.
We take a look at the sharp currency devaluation in Belarus and the panic it has provoked. In Germany, Angela Merkel’s government has been refusing to follow the pack - we explore the country’s recent stances on Libya, nuclear energy and the euro. Finally, British PM David Cameron is cracking down on sexing up.
The right is struggling across Europe. France local elections debacle, Germany with the CDU losing Bade-Wurtemberg and control of the Bundesrat, Berlusconi hanging on by a razor-thin majority amidst legal troubles, and GB with massive street demos…
Angela Merkel’s zigzagging on nuclear power cost her ruling CDU party a devastating defeat in local elections Sunday.A massive 24 per cent of voters opted for the Greens in the wake of Japan’s nuclear crisis.
