The 2017 German Federal Elections

German parliament follows in the tracks of the far-right Alternative for Germany

By Peter Schwarz, 24 March 2018

The central theme of the parliamentary debate on the new government’s programme was the limiting and deportation of refugees.

German grand coalition shifts sharply to the right

By Johannes Stern, 21 March 2018

The new government is stoking a racist atmosphere to further its programme of militarism, social attacks, and the strengthening of the repressive state apparatus.

New German foreign minister threatens Russia and intensifies militarism

By Johannes Stern, 17 March 2018

In his inaugural address, the new foreign minister stressed that the third grand coalition under Angela Merkel would accelerate Germany’s return to an aggressive foreign policy.

Great power politics, militarism, increased deportations: The right-wing programme of Germany’s grand coalition

By Peter Schwarz, 14 March 2018

The ruling class of Germany is reacting to the crisis of the European Union by returning to the criminal methods it used in the past.

Germany’s incoming interior minister announces police state measures, mass deportations

By Christoph Vandreier, 13 March 2018

Horst Seehofer’s aggressive tone and far-reaching plans make clear that the grand coalition is preparing for the brutal suppression of all opposition to its policies of militarism and austerity.

German Chancellor promotes rearmament and war in speech to parliament

By Johannes Stern, 24 February 2018

Merkel made clear that the incoming grand coalition will implement a massive military build-up, a new round of social austerity and adopt the far-right’s policies on refugees.

Germany’s Grand Coalition for austerity and war

By Johannes Stern, 6 February 2018

In the final stretch of coalition negotiations, SPD leader Martin Schulz announced an agreement between his party and the conservative CDU/CSU on European policy.

Hamburg police searching for G20 protesters Europe-wide

By Marianne Arens, 6 February 2018

The extension of the operation is part of the plans of the grand coalition between the SPD and Christian Democrats to further strengthen police powers and coordinate security policy on a European basis.

German grand coalition parties negotiate over rearmament and war

By Johannes Stern, 5 February 2018

While the media reported “breakthroughs” in health and housing policies, initial reports on the coalition paper show what the talks are really about.

Germany: Why is the SPD youth wing campaigning against a grand coalition?

By Peter Schwarz, 30 January 2018

The campaign by the Jusos against a new edition of the grand coalition with the Christian Democrats has provoked considerable nervousness in the SPD leadership.

Germany: IG Metall greets far-right AfD participants at union protest

By our correspondents, 23 January 2018

The reactionary orientation of the union was most evident when an IGM functionary greeted the participation of the far-right AfD on the demonstration.

German SPD congress agrees to initiate coalition talks with conservatives

By Johannes Stern, 22 January 2018

The Social Democratic Party’s special party congress in Bonn voted 362 to 279 for coalition talks with the Christian Democratic Union/Christian Social Union.

Germany: Sharp conflicts inside the Left Party

By Peter Schwarz, 22 January 2018

After the shift to the right in last year’s federal elections and the Social Democrats’ decision to continue the grand coalition with the Christian Democrats, long-simmering conflicts inside the Left Party have intensified.

German trade unions beat the drums for another grand coalition

By Johannes Stern, 17 January 2018

Talks between the CDU, CSU and SPD point to the formation of the most right-wing government in Germany since the end of the Second World War.

German conservatives and Social Democrats agree to coalition talks

By Peter Schwarz, 13 January 2018

The 28-page document on the results of the exploratory talks conceals a deeply reactionary right-wing programme behind unctuous rhetoric about an “awakening,” “democracy,” “peace” and “justice.”

Workers must demand new elections in Germany!

By Sozialistische Gleichheitspartei, 10 January 2018

Behind the backs of the population, the ruling class is working to install the most right-wing government in Germany since the fall of Hitler’s Third Reich.

Germany: SPD leadership officially explores entering coalition with the Christian Democrats

By Johannes Stern, 20 December 2017

The Social Democratic Party leadership unanimously agreed to hold exploratory talks in January with the Christian Democrats over the formation of a new government.

German Greens pledge to uphold state’s interests

By Peter Schwarz, 28 November 2017

Following the failure of Jamaica coalition talks, the Greens are emphasizing their readiness to uphold the interests of the state, even as an opposition party.

Germany’s Social Democrats prepare for grand coalition with Merkel

By Peter Schwarz, 25 November 2017

A third installment of the grand coalition will will adopt an even more authoritarian and ruthless course from its predecessors.

German SPD leader Martin Schulz: A false friend of Siemens workers

By Peter Schwarz, 24 November 2017

Despite Schulz’s rhetorical denunciations of planned job cuts at Siemens, the SPD has for years been at the forefront of attacks against workers’ jobs, wages, and living standards.

Right-wing maneuvers follow collapse of government coalition talks in Berlin

By Johannes Stern, 22 November 2017

Behind the backs of the population the German ruling class is elaborating various scenarios with the same aim: the formation of an extreme right-wing government.

German Social Democrats take first place in Lower Saxony election but lose their Green coalition partner

By Ulrich Rippert, 19 October 2017

The SPD gained more than 4 percent over its last showing, but the losses of the Greens mean that the two parties lack the parliamentary majority needed for a new coalition.

What would a “Jamaica” coalition in Germany represent?

By Peter Schwarz, 7 October 2017

It is already becoming clear that the new government will be the most right-wing in the history of the German Federal Republic.

German Left Party’s Lafontaine launches AfD-style tirade against refugees

By Johannes Stern, 4 October 2017

The Left Party is using the AfD’s electoral success to justify adopting its xenophobic programme.

German Green Party opts for coalition with conservative and neo-liberal parties

By Peter Schwarz, 4 October 2017

A Green Party conference agreed to start negotiations on a coalition government with the Christian Democratic Union, Christian Social Union and the Free Democratic Party.

Germany’s Social Democrats prepare to suppress popular opposition

By Marianne Arens and Peter Schwarz, 3 October 2017

The Social Democratic Party is taking on the task of suppressing opposition to militarism, the strengthening of the state apparatus and social cutbacks.

German army build-up follows federal election

By Tino Jacobson, 30 September 2017

The latest acquisitions are part of a comprehensive armaments program over coming years whose dimensions recall the massive rearming of the Wehrmacht in the 1930s.

SGP election rally: International meeting in Berlin calls for stepped-up struggle against capitalism and war

By our reporters, 27 September 2017

The rally took place on the final day of the election campaign waged throughout Germany by the Sozialistische Gleichheitspartei (SGP, Socialist Equality Party).

SGP election meeting: “War and inequality mutually reinforce one another”

By our correspondents, 27 September 2017

The speeches to the Berlin meeting by leading members of the Fourth International from Germany, Britain, France and the US were closely followed by the audience and found a very positive response.

The rise of the AfD and the rightward lurch of official politics in Germany

By Peter Schwarz, 25 September 2017

For the first time since the fall of the Nazis, a right-wing extremist party is entering Germany’s national parliament.

The war danger and the significance of the election campaign of the Socialist Equality Party of Germany

By the Socialist Equality Party (Germany), 21 September 2017

The incoming government’s policies have long been decided: an unprecedented intensification of militarism, the strengthening of the repressive state apparatus and social cuts.

German Greens’ pro-war policy on display at think tank forum

By Johannes Stern, 19 September 2017

Ever since the Greens organised the first foreign combat operation by German soldiers since World War II in 1999, they have been a leading party of German militarism.

Socialist Equality Party holds election meeting in Berlin

By our reporters, 13 September 2017

The meeting was addressed by Socialist Equality Party candidate Christoph Vandreier and Julie Hyland, assistant national secretary of the SEP in Britain.

Plans for major military build-up after Germany’s federal election

By Peter Schwarz, 12 September 2017

The military build-up has not featured in the election campaign because all parties agree that it must be massively expanded after the election.

Germany’s federal election campaign and the danger of global nuclear war

By Johannes Stern, 9 September 2017

The media and political parties have long sought to keep the issues of war and militarism out of the election campaign, but reality is now catching up with them.

Germany: 60,000 people evacuated as WWII bomb is defused in Frankfurt

By Marianne Arens, 7 September 2017

The largest evacuation in post-war German history led to many lively discussions about war and dictatorship.

German Left Party and Greens demand expansion of police powers

By Peter Schwarz, 6 September 2017

Like Angela Merkel and Martin Schulz in Sunday’s television debate, representatives of the smaller parties advocated a massive build-up of the domestic state apparatus.

Candidates denounce refugees, demand state build-up at German election debate

By Johannes Stern, 5 September 2017

Merkel and Schulz agreed on virtually every issue and appealed for a crackdown on refugees, more police, and a more aggressive German and European foreign policy.

German SGP election candidate speaks at student protest against deportations

By our reporters, 4 September 2017

Marianne Arens, an election candidate of the Socialist Equality Party (SGP), spoke at a demonstration of students in the town of Offenbach protesting against the deportation of classmates to Afghanistan.

Germany: SPD chancellor candidate Schulz attacks Merkel from the right

By Johannes Stern, 28 August 2017

The more the SPD declines in the polls, the more it lashes out aggressively in its election campaign.

German SPD conference: Schulz attacks Merkel from the right

By Johannes Stern, 26 June 2017

At its party congress in Dortmund, the SPD presented itself as the party of social cuts, militarism and the intelligence services.

Support the strike by VW workers in Slovakia!

By Ulrich Rippert chairman of the SGP and SGP candidate in North Rhine Westphalia, 26 June 2017

The 8,000 striking Volkswagen workers in Slovakia deserve the support of VW and all autoworkers throughout Germany and the world.