1 hour ago German election: What to expect and what is at stake as voters head to polls

Election is likely to end with no clear winner with tricky coalition talks

Politics

2 h. ago Keir Starmer more influential to Labour’s Holyrood vote than Anas Sarwar

Some 29.5 per cent said the Prime Minister would have more influence over their vote at next year's Holyrood election - compared to 12.6 per cent who said the Scottish Labour leader would have more sway.

Politics

4 h. ago The Latest: Polls open in Germany in crucial general election

German voters are heading to the polls for a national election

Politics

6 h. ago Discontented Germany votes in an election with economy, migration and far

German voters are choosing their new government in an election dominated by worries about the years-long stagnation of Europe’s biggest economy, pressure to curb migration and growing uncertainty over the future of Ukraine and Europe’s alliance with the United States

Politics

16 h. ago One last push before Germany goes to the polls: Final poll predicts large gains for far

A little more than a month after a general election was called following a vote of no confidence against chancellor Olaf Scholz, Germans will have their chance to vote tomorrow.

Politics

19 h. ago Leading contenders make their final appeals to German voters before a landmark election

The contenders in Germany’s election are making their final appeals to voters

Politics

48 h. ago German voters head to the polls this weekend – here is what to expect

German voters go to the polls on Sunday to elect a parliament that will hold power for four years

Politics

50 h. ago Germany voters head to the polls this weekend – here is what to expect

German voters go to the polls on Sunday to elect a parliament that will hold power for four years

Politics

51 h. ago Many who came to Germany as migrants will vote for the first time Sunday. Here's what they hope for

More than half a million newly naturalized citizens will be able to vote in Germany’s national election for the first time this weekend

Politics

69 h. ago Don’t mention the war: in Germany, politicians are hiding the truth about defence spending | Paul Taylor

By centring the discourse on immigration, MPs have handed support to the far right – and hidden a ticking economic timebomb from votersThe candidates to lead Germany’s next government are avoiding telling voters painful truths before Sunday’s crucial general election about Russia’s war in Ukraine, the coming disengagement of the US from Europe and the huge defence funding that is needed. Instead, the debate has largely focused on how to revive the ailing German economy after two years of recession and how to control migration, which has fuelled support for the far-right Alternative für Deutschland.The conservative CDU/CSU leader, Friedrich Merz, has swerved speaking about the need for massive borrowing to pay for a surge in defence spending because many of his supporters oppose extra debt. The Social Democratic (SPD) chancellor, Olaf Scholz, is dodging discussion of sending German troops to Ukraine as part of a possible European security force if a ceasefire agreement is reached bec...

Politics

3 d. ago German voters head to the polls on Sunday – here is what to expect

German voters go to the polls on Sunday to elect a parliament that will hold power for four years

Politics

3 d. ago German voters head to the polls on Sunday – here is is what to expect

German voters go to the polls on Sunday to elect a parliament that will hold power for four years

Politics

3 d. ago German voters prepare to elect a new parliament. Here's what to expect on and after election day

German voters go to the polls Sunday to elect a parliament that will determine who runs the country for the next four years

Politics

4 d. ago Why is Spain’s economy booming? Thanks to migration – which proves xenophobia doesn’t pay | María Ramírez

With Spanish GDP growth leading Europe last year, diversity is making us richer – not only financially but culturally, tooThe world’s fastest growing major advanced economy last year was most likely Spain. According to preliminary official data for 2024, Spain’s GDP grew by 3.2%, almost five times the eurozone average and more than the US, which did pretty well too. In December, the Economist ranked Spain first among 37 mostly wealthy countries based on five indicators: GDP, stock market performance, core inflation, unemployment and government deficits. Forecasts for 2025 look good.Why is Spain doing so well? One key reason is immigration. Recent population flows, particularly but not only from Colombia, Venezuela and other Latin American countries, as well as Morocco, have boosted domestic demand and rejuvenated the workforce. According to the main labour national survey, nearly 90% of new jobs were filled by workers of foreign origin or dual nationality. Unemployment is at its low...

Economics

4 d. ago Brazil mayor shot in ‘fake attack’ for election boost before losing vote in landslide anyway

José Aprígio da Silva was seriously hurt in October by assailants with assault rifles but police say it was fakedAs campaign strategies go it was unorthodox and illegal: buy an AK-47, hire a pair of phony hitmen, and stage a fake assassination attempt against the mayor that would generate public sympathy and help him win a second term in power.That, Brazilian police claim, was the gameplan last October when, on the eve of the local election, an armoured vehicle carrying José Aprígio da Silva came under fire in Taboão da Serra, a town on the outskirts of São Paulo. Continue reading...

Politics

5 d. ago How Spain’s radically different approach to migration helped its economy soar

As immigration has increased, GDP has surged and unemployment has fallen to lowest level since 2008From Madrid to Barcelona, restaurants and bars are brimming with people, and reservations have become essential for everything from fine dining to high-end hotels.It’s a glimpse of how Spain has become Europe’s buzziest economy – named the world’s best by the Economist in 2024 – fuelled in part by what analysts have described as the government’s strikingly different approach to migration. Continue reading...

Politics

6 d. ago AfD leader blasts politicians for 'excluding millions of voters' who want migration tackled in heated TV debate as hard

Alice Weidel praised US Vice President JD Vance for his comments calling on Germany to drop its decades-long taboo of having the far right in government.

Politics