Germany’s Christian Democrats (CDU) meet on Monday to approve a coalition deal with the Social Democrats (SPD), a move that will take their leader, Angela Merkel, a step closer to a fourth term as chancellor in Europe’s biggest economy. The last major hurdle to end a five-month political impasse after a Sept. 24 election, however, comes next week. On March 4, the results of a postal vote by SPD members vote will be announced, and that result is far less certain. The party conference follows Merkel’s announcement of her CDU picks for a new, younger cabinet intended to revive the party, which has descended into rows about how to respond to the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD). Merkel is to address CDU delegates at the meeting before the vote on the deal, which is expected to go through easily. The conference will also vote on the appointment of her close ally Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer as CDU general secretary, who is widely seen as her preferred successor. Dubbed “mini-Merkel” by some media, the Saarland state premier, 55, shares many of Merkel’s views – but not all. Her Catholic, western German background contrasts with Merkel’s Protestant, eastern roots. While socially conservative, known for opposing gay marriage, Kramp-Karrenbauer is a strong supporter of the minimum wage and worker rights. After 12 years as chancellor and almost 18 years in charge of her party, Merkel’s authority is waning and on Sunday, she responded to growing calls for new blood at the top of the CDU…. [Read full story]
Angela Merkel set to work Monday on a new centre-right coalition after clinching a second term, but warned Germans of a hard road ahead to revive the sickly economy and rescue vanishing jobs. The conservative chancellor secured another four-year mandate with enough votes to dump an awkward "grand coalition" with the Social Democrats (SPD) for an alliance with the pro-business Free Democrats (FDP). "We want to use this opportunity in an economically difficult time to save jobs, create new jobs and boost growth decisively," said Merkel, Germany's first female leader and its first chancellor from the former communist east. "I…... [read more]
German Chancellor Angela Merkel signed a coalition deal with the centre-left German Social Democratic Party (SPD) on Wednesday, paving the way for a "grand coalition" of right and left. The SPD membership must still give final approval to the coalition agreement. They are expected to vote between December 6 and 12. The deal, agreed to early Wednesday, came more than two months after Germans voted in parliamentary elections and followed lengthy negotiations between Merkel's conservative bloc, her Christian Democratic Union party and the allied CSU, and the SPD. Speaking at a joint news conference with the leaders of the SPD…... [read more]
>> Vietnam narrows Government cabinet personnel in new term >> Vietnam\'s Prime Minister re-elected >> Vietnam has new president, PM nominated for second term The Vietnamese National Assembly approved Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung’s nominations for cabinet members this moring August 3. The new cabinet was immediately inaugurated and started its term. The Government cabinet personnel in the new termThe list of nominees for the new 2011-16 term includes four Deputy Prime Ministers and 18 ministers and heads of four minister-level agencies.All the nominees received over 50% of votes. Pham Thi Hai Chuyen nominated as Minister of Labour, Invalids and…... [read more]
– After the first 100 days in action, the new government has made a lot of hallmarks. Newly-appointed Minister of Transport considered a ‘phenomenon’ Which group will come after Petrolimex? After taking office, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung and his cabinet have immediately dealt with urgent issues like economic restructuring, seeking a new growth model and combat social evils. In the past three months, the new cabinet has not made any completely new policy. It has been implementing the policy that was put forward from the government of the previous term, for example the Resolution 11 on stabilizing macro-economics and…... [read more]
The measures include increasing police powers to deploy undercover agents and empowering Germany's intelligence agencies to exchange information with foreign partners, under clear conditions, according to a document on the meeting's conclusions seen by Reuters. The ruling parties - Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservatives, their Bavarian allies and the Social Democrats - also agreed on the details of a planned integration law for refugees, a coalition source said, without giving details. They plan to pass the integration law on May 24. Around 1 million migrants arrived in Germany last year, many fleeing conflict in the Middle East. Interior Minister Thomas de…... [read more]
