Germany

Angela Merkel has done something rather rare in European politics these days. 

We spoke to Pauline Brünger, a student and climate activist, who was among the organisers of the Fridays for Future demonstrations across Germany, and Marina Weisband, a political activist and author who first arrived in Germany as a refugee from Ukraine.

Oktoberfest has been downsized thanks to Covid, but German politics has gone into full and final gear before Sunday’s election. 

German Green Party MEP Reinhard Bütikofer claims the party will be the “strongest ever” after the country’s elections, adding the group is ready to stand up for human rights and foreign policy.

Today the Greens poll around 17 per cent of the vote. It had been higher this summer and many thought the devastating floods, widely blamed on climate change, would make all the difference. But did they? 

As the UN issues a “code red for humanity”, Anja Popp is on the frontline of our warming planet, reporting on floods in Germany and fires in Greece.

Some villages in Germany hit by last week’s devastating floods could be left unable to restore power and drinking water supplies for months due to the extent of the damage.

Angela Merkel has promised quick financial aid for the parts of western Germany devastated by flooding and has vowed to step up efforts to tackle climate change. 

Well earlier I spoke to flood forecasting expert Dr Linda Speight and began by asking why the floods in Germany were so devastating.

The true scale of the devastation caused by floods in parts of Western Europe has been laid bare as water levels drop. 

Boris Johnson hosted German Chancellor Angela Merkel at Chequers on her last official visit to the UK before she leaves power in September. After lunch with Mr Johnson she also had tea with the Queen.

We spoke to the German MP Alexander von Lambsdorff, who spent many years in the European parliament where he led the European Liberals and Democrats group.

Germany’s Constitutional Court has ruled that the country’s politicians must act more quickly to reduce emissions.

Our Europe Editor, Matt Frei, explains how Merkel became the powerful presence she is today, someone uniquely qualified for the role: a unifier, a pragmatist, the most talented politician of her generation.

Germany has become the latest country to approve the AstraZeneca vaccine in people over 65