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The Chinese zodiac predicts justice, openness, tolerance and innovation for the year ahead. After a difficult political year, it could be just the tonic.
Refugees in Greece seeking reunification with family in Germany.
Orestis Panagiotou/EPA
The issue of whether to allow refugees to bring their close family to Germany has been a sticking point in coalition negotiations.
EPA/Olivier Hoslet
Martin Schulz has said he’d rather go back into opposition than agree to another grand coalition. But is that sensible?
EPA/Filip Singer
The parliamentary arithmetic suggests Merkel would actually be in quite a stable position if she goes it alone, without calling fresh elections.
immodium/Shutterstock
German chancellor is running out of options to form a viable government.
May cannot depend on distracted Merkel and Macron.
Olivier Hoslet/EPA
Stalemate in the Brexit negotiations is linked to a crisis of representation in Europe.
AP.
Generations of Germans have worked to create a positive national identity based on difficult self-reckoning with the Nazi era. The recent election attacks that progress.
AfD’s , Alexander Gauland and Alice Weidel will enter the federal parliament.
EPA/Felipe Trueba
Angela Merkel must continue to resist the temptation to cede political ground to the populists.
AfD supporters celebrate as exit polls are announced.
EPA/Thorsten Wagner
After taking more than 13% of the vote, this young party is entering parliament for the first time. And a lot of people are upset about it.
EPA/Clemens Bilan
The chancellor wins again, but the rise of the populists will probably force the next administration to the right.
EPA/Filipe Trueba
The chancellor remains strong but right-wing populists are likely to enter parliament on Sunday.
Jorg Schubert
A survey of young voters reveals a lack of engagement in politics.
EPA/Filipe Trueba
Few thought she’d go the distance when she first came to power. That was more than a decade ago.
Election posters in Frankfurt tout German Chancellor Angela Merkel and request votes for her CDU party. German elections will be held on Sunday but, as usual, the action begins after the race is over. The slogan reads “Successful for Germany”
(AP Photo/Michael Probst)
German elections are typically tame. Jockeying for power takes place later, in negotiations for a coalition government. Could the xenophobic Alternative for Germany form the opposition?
EPA/Felipe Trueba
Angela Merkel is on course for victory but she will need to form a coalition, and there’s more than one way to make that happen.
Naruedom Yaempongsa/Shutterstock
Politicians need to get serious about the steady drip of scandals.
Illicit firearms and small weapons recovered during security operations being destroyed in Nairobi.
REUTERS/Thomas Mukoya
German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s comments about weapons as part of development for Africa could have the opposite effect if conditions aren’t strict and democratic processes aren’t followed.
The signs are there for those who care to look.
EPA/Carsten Rehder
Follow the money to see if Angela Merkel is on course for a fourth term as chancellor after the September vote.
This is a potent slogan, although there is a deeply conservative undertone to the idea that love always requires marriage.
AAP/Joel Carrett
The marriage equality movement could still back the plebiscite on condition that its results are binding.
There are 100 million uncontrolled small arms and light weapons in African crisis zones.
Reuters/Goran Tomasevic
African governments are open to military aid from the West. However, Germany’s recent remarks about the transfer of weapons to countries battling militants, needs to be approached with caution.