All posts tagged: Gerhard Schröder

Putin’s trolls are weakening Merz to boost Russia-friendly far right – POLITICO

Putin’s trolls are weakening Merz to boost Russia-friendly far right – POLITICO

Published by Sam Flores

“In my view, it’s a tactically astute move to bring Gerhard Schröder — who, after all, still enjoys considerable popularity in Germany — back into the picture, as if to say, ‘If you want, we can negotiate,’” said Georg Maier, the SPD interior minister of the eastern state of Thuringia. “It’s basically a lie, because if you actually wanted to negotiate, you wouldn’t need Gerhard Schröder for that. But of course, the impression meant to be created is that the [German] government wants this war and wants to sell weapons, wants to expand NATO’s influence — and this disinformation is working.” The AfD too says it’s ready to talk to Russia given what it portays as Merz’s refusal to do so. This week AfD leader Alice Weidel suggested Ukraine, not Russia, poses a threat to Germany, and said her party was willing to talk peace with Putin. “We consider Ukraine’s conduct of the war to be absolutely disastrous, posing an immense security risk to Germany,” she said in Berlin. “A German government led by the …

Could influencers crash future EU summits? – POLITICO

Could influencers crash future EU summits? – POLITICO

Published by Sam Flores

Ukraine wants Europe more involved in peace efforts with Russia — but who exactly would represent Europe in those talks? After Vladimir Putin floated former German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder as a possible negotiator, Brussels reacted with disbelief. Host Zoya Sheftalovich and Nick Vinocur unpack the growing debate around Europe’s role in future peace negotiations, including Nick’s interview with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha and Zoya’s conversation with Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand on why Ottawa is moving closer to Europe on Ukraine, defense and security. Then: Europe’s latest attempt to get ahead of the artificial intelligence boom before it spirals out of control. From a new child-focused AI safety institute unveiled in Copenhagen with Ursula von der Leyen and Hillary Clinton, to Belgium’s push for an AI “coalition of the willing.” And finally: Influencers could soon get access to EU summits, doorsteps and press conferences as part of a new European Council pilot project. Do you have a name in mind? Send us your recommendations on WhatsApp here or at +32 491 05 06 29. …

Ukraine asks Europe to broker ‘airport ceasefire’ with Putin – POLITICO

Ukraine asks Europe to broker ‘airport ceasefire’ with Putin – POLITICO

Published by Sam Flores

Canada joins the chat Monday’s talks in Brussels also included a high-level meeting on the return of Ukrainian children abducted by Russia, attended by Sybiha, Kallas and Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand. While around 2,100 children have been returned to Ukraine, roughly 20,000 remain missing. “I’m a mother of four, and this is the day after Mother’s Day in North America,” Anand told POLITICO ahead of the meeting. “We have much more work to do to bring children home to their mothers, to their families, to their country. And this is absolutely a priority for Canada.” Kallas unveiled sanctions against more than two dozen individuals involved in Ukrainian child abductions, while Anand argued that like-minded countries should work together to fill gaps left by larger powers. “In a world where hegemons are vacating the space, either in the global economy or in defense and security, middle powers like Canada need to step up and fill that space,” she said. Sybiha described the children initiative as one part of a broader diplomatic momentum behind Ukraine. He …

Germany’s center left is on the brink of oblivion – POLITICO

Germany’s center left is on the brink of oblivion – POLITICO

Published by Sam Flores

The country’s non-starting “autumn of reforms” has already turned into the “spring of reforms,” with concrete proposals on several fronts yet to be reported. The initials results, on long-term care, are expected soon, followed by those on health care funding. After that, plans to reform the pension system are expected by June, so legislation can be drafted and submitted to parliament before it breaks for summer recess in July. Normally, all this would be a tall order for the SPD. But “major reforms must take place,” Klingbeil admitted in a recent keynote speech, and they must lead to “lower taxes, lower levies, less bureaucracy, competitive energy prices. In short: A country where work is worthwhile again.” This means the battle within the coalition will be focused on points of detail and priority that Merz and Klingbeil will argue over — both in private and performatively in public — to present their credentials to voters. But a much bigger question still looms over the SPD, just as it does with similar social democratic groupings in other …

Die SPD startet ihr Sanierungsprojekt – POLITICO

Die SPD startet ihr Sanierungsprojekt – POLITICO

Published by Sam Flores

In der SPD geht die Sorge vor den Geistern der Vergangenheit um: Lars Klingbeils Reform-Rede weckt Erinnerungen an Gerhard Schröder und Franz Müntefering. Männer, die das Land modernisierten, aber ihre Partei in die Opposition führten. Heute trifft sich die SPD-Spitze mit Landes- und Kommunalpolitikern, um über Klingbeils Vorschläge zu beraten. Rixa Fürsen und Rasmus Buchsteiner analysieren, ob das Treffen zum Aufbruch oder zum Krisengipfel wird. Im 200-Sekunden-Interview dazu: Jochen Ott, SPD-Fraktionschef im Landtag von Nordrhein-Westfalen und Spitzenkandidat der NRW-SPD für die Wahl 2027. Während Berlin über die Reformen streitet, ist Verteidigungsminister Boris Pistorius am anderen Ende der Welt unterwegs. Für POLITICO begleitet ihn Chris Lunday in Australien und berichtet über deutsche U-Boot-Diplomatie sowie das wachsende Bestreben der Region, sich auch dort sicherheitspolitisch unabhängiger von den USA zu machen. Das Berlin Playbook als Podcast gibt es jeden Morgen ab 5 Uhr. Gordon Repinski und das POLITICO-Team liefern Politik zum Hören – kompakt, international, hintergründig. Für alle Hauptstadt-Profis: Der Berlin Playbook-Newsletter bietet jeden Morgen die wichtigsten Themen und Einordnungen. ⁠Jetzt kostenlos abonnieren.⁠ Mehr von Rixa Fürsen gibt …