9 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

21 h. ago A train through Germany: is Europe’s powerhouse going off the rails?

In the run-up to Sunday’s crucial election, the Guardian took a long journey through Europe’s heartland to talk to votersCreaking, overcrowded, neglected, Germany’s railways, once a source of national pride, have taken a battering to their image in recent years. Amid wider concerns about the health of Europe’s stagnating largest economy, the state of its trains has become something of a metaphor for a more general sense of malaise.On Sunday Germans will go to the polls in one of the most important elections in recent times, with an emboldened far right hoping to more than double its share of votes. In the run-up, the Guardian travelled more than 850 miles on trains across Germany to hear what its citizens have to say about the state of their nation. Continue reading...

Politics

38 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

41 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

60 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

64 h. 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

64 h. 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