If the EU continues to drift, disintegration becomes a more plausible future
Worldview: Rightward-shifts in major EU states like Germany, France, Poland and Italy present a real threat
Friedrich Merz
Janan Ganesh: The West does not have a leadership problem
If Friedrich Merz and almost everyone else is unpopular, perhaps governments aren’t the issue
Nostalgia and lost pride: the fuel that feeds Europe’s far right
Populist emphasis on national identity and threats to it, real and imagined, find a deep response in voters adrift in a world they no longer understand
German leaders prepare to deny far right access to secret war plan
With Alternative for Germany close to power, federal officials want to limit the group’s access to classified intelligence
Friedrich Merz criticises ‘destructive’ parties as he fights for survival
German chancellor under pressure following AfD’s second electoral victory in the east and far-left wins in Berlin
EU budget ambitions in doubt as member states resist paying more
Fresh concern German chancellor’s domestic struggles will spill into tense EU budget negotiations
Germany’s most unpopular leader in modern times digs in, but for how long?
Lessons from elsewhere in Europe suggest once leaders become deeply unpopular, they almost never recover
German chancellor under pressure after elections, and ‘concern’ at Leaving Cert reform
Early Edition with Andrew McNair
German chancellor Friedrich Merz vows to stay on despite ‘disaster’ in regional elections
Partial results show CDU just above the 5 per cent threshold for parliamentary representation in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern
Friedrich Merz vows to stay on despite ‘disaster’ for his party in German state elections
Exit poll says Alternative for Germany doubled its vote in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, while the Left party leads in Berlin
‘Berlin’s Mamdani’ could carry Left party to power in Berlin
Anti-capitalist Elif Eralp is hoping to become the German capital’s first mayor of Turkish origin
Merz is on the ropes. Could Sunday’s regional elections deliver a knock-out blow?
While the chancellor struggles and his centre-right CDU bickers, its SPD rival has come out in attack mode
Why is the EU courting Canada? Trump might have something to do with it
Von der Leyen’s proposal reflects how the US president’s trade war and foreign policy have pushed Canada and Europe closer
The world’s best-paid leader is getting a €1m bonus. How does the Taoiseach’s salary compare?
Singapore says higher salaries help attract talent and deter corruption. Its prime minister’s new package will leave other world leaders behind
Anti-immigration and pro-Russia – why did Germans vote for the AfD?
In the News podcast: Resounding victory for far-right party in regional election sends shockwaves
The Irish Times view on the German state elections: landmark win for the far right
The results is a big blow to chancellor Friedrich Merz
Germany’s far-right earthquake leaves Merz reeling with ‘existential shock’
AfD’s historic victory sets clock ticking on Germany’s postwar constitutional order, chancellor warns
Voters in eastern German state have blown up post-unification politics
AfD win in Saxony-Anhalt has hit reset button on politics in Europe’s largest country
Far-right AfD wins key state election, throwing Germany’s politics into uncertain era
An election in Saxony-Anhalt has become a defining test of whether Germany’s mainstream can still hold the line
Mass deportations, euro exit and Russian gas: the AfD’s plan for power
Victory in Saxony-Anhalt on Sunday would mark a postwar watershed, making the AfD the first radical right party to govern a German state since 1945
Germany says Russia was behind last month’s attempted drone attack at Leipzig airport
Minister for Defence Helen McEntee said Russia’s ‘attempted drone attack’ at Leipzig airport was ‘part of a clear trend’
‘De-demonisation’ of Europe’s far right clears ground for resurgence of fascist ideas
World View: Historians unconvinced by deliberate forgetfulness in France and Italy, while German leader sounds alarm
Germany and ‘frugal’ allies signal budget compromise but reject further EU borrowing
Friedrich Merz and five other leaders demand spending cuts of ‘several hundred billion euros in a balanced manner’
Scan a QR code to find Berlin’s biggest political problem
As rents continue to climb, housing has emerged as the defining battleground of Berlin’s September state election
Ireland convenes meeting of EU ministers to discuss Spain’s Ceuta crisis
More than 50,000 people crossed into the Spanish territory from Morocco on Thursday and Friday
Berlin Pride attack sharpens debate over home-grown Islamist extremism
As politicians clash over the response to the deadly attack, one man who escaped Islamist radicalisation is urging a more honest debate on extremism
The spiralling projected cost of the Metrolink brings the NCH to mind
Inside Politics podcast with Hugh Linehan
Is Daniel Tatlow-Devally facing a show trial in Germany?
Consider the conditions of Daniel Tatlow-Devally’s detention in Germany
Translation issues hold up Merz’s Dublin visit, but no mistaking his EU money frustrations
German leader placed subtle pressure on Taoiseach to assist his goal of slashing bloc’s spending by several hundred billion euro
German chancellor in Dublin denies Daniel Tatlow-Devally is facing ‘show trial’
On sanctions for Israel, Friedrich Merz says ‘we don’t want to, we won’t do it, we cannot do it’
Why was Berlin’s Pride attacker still free to strike?
As details emerge of the perpetrator’s failed attempts to join Islamic State, scrutiny is mounting on courts, police and deradicalisation efforts
Germany’s cabinet reshuffle after surrogacy controversy sees Friedrich Merz’s chief of staff fill party leader vacancy
Nina Warken’s promotion to chancellor’s right hand seen as a reward for delivering a major healthcare reform package
Germany shores up defences, spending billions on submarines and ships
Country’s political leaders yet to have an awkward conversation with their own voters
Can Friedrich Merz really fix Germany?
Chancellor hopes reforms will kick-start the economy. Critics say they don’t go far enough
On the rebound: Merz promises to get Germany back on track after World Cup disaster
Whether soccer or rail, many see a wider malaise gripping Germany
Germany’s spy agency comes in from the cold
Berlin wants to loosen the shackles on the BND as part of a Europe-wide drive to reduce dependence on US intelligence
‘Thank you, dear Keir’: European leaders pay tribute to Starmer as EU-UK summit postponed
Outgoing British PM helped boost security for Continent, says Ursula von der Leyen
Germany plots next steps after European fighter jet project collapses
Germany pulled out of Airbus-Dassault consortium for project this week
Germany’s far-right and hard-left politics boomerang back to the horseshoe theory
BSW alliance, struggling around margins to enter Bundestag, may be able to find common ground with Alternative for Germany
Volodymyr Zelenskiy says proposal of associate EU membership for Ukraine is ‘unfair’
Germany’s Friedrich Merz suggested interim step of associate membership without voting rights
Friedrich Merz proposes ‘associate member’ EU status for Ukraine
German chancellor suggests allowing Ukrainian officials to attend EU summits but not vote
German chancellor says he ‘would not advise my children to go’ to US
Friedrich Merz tells conference he no longer sees country as a land of opportunity
Is Angela Merkel set to return as EU envoy on Ukraine?
Nearly five years after leaving office, the former German chancellor may be drawn back into diplomacy – despite questions over her record on Russia
Merz’s first year: Germany’s impulsive chancellor sees poll ratings slump to record low
Merz hampered by poor political communication and even worse political co-ordination
Time to seriously examine going nuclear, says Taoiseach in Armenia
Micheál Martin says further cost-of-living measures coming in next budget
US move on long-range missiles creates problems for Europe
Fear US will withdraw weapons faster than Europe can develop alternatives
Top Republicans express concern after US orders withdrawal of 5,000 troops from Germany
Donald Trump reacts to criticism by German chancellor Merz of US war in Iran
Trump may pull US troops from Germany over row with Merz, but threat carries less weight
Security relationship is not as one-sided as in the past
Trump discusses new Iranian proposal with security aides as conflict remains in stalemate
US secretary of state Marco Rubio tells Fox News he thinks Iran is trying to buy more time
Micheál Martin has enough support to resist FF leadership challenge, survey suggests
Ministers and TDs rally behind Taoiseach, but 25, mostly rural, TDs did not respond to Irish Times poll
Security in Europe ‘a key focus’ for Ireland’s EU presidency, says Taoiseach in Berlin
Micheál Martin and Friedrich Merz discuss impact of rising energy prices and the wars in the Middle East and Ukraine
Taoiseach to discuss energy-price crisis during visit to German leader in Berlin
Meeting with Friedrich Merz part of preparatory work for Ireland’s EU presidency
German emergency fuel supports unlikely to enhance chancellor’s low approval
Announcing the temporary measures, Friedrich Merz said the state ‘cannot compensate for every market event’
Nato split over US access to European bases
Deepening rift within Nato fuels fears Trump could use Iran war as pretext to scale back US commitment to Europe’s defence
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Crosswords & puzzles to keep you challenged and entertained
Stardust
Inquests into the nightclub fire that led to the deaths of 48 people
Common Ground
How does a post-Brexit world shape the identity and relationship of these islands
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