In 2005, Angela Merkel made history as the first woman to be elected chancellor of Germany. Over the 16 years she has served, Merkel has undeniably established Germany as a preeminent leader in Europe and the world. However, when Germany holds its federal elections this month, Merkel will not be running for re-election. As Germany enters its final...

Each week, the ACG hosts a discussion with a journalist based in Germany on the topics making the headlines and shaping political discourse in Berlin. Join us on Monday, September 20 at 9:00 am EDT, for a discussion about the television debate between the three candidates for Chancellor and what to expect in the final days before the...

In February, the Christian Democrats were riding high in the polls. By May, they had dropped some 10 percentage points and the Greens had surged to a temporary peak. Trailing by two or more percentage points throughout the year, in August the Social Democrats swept past the Greens and the Christian Democrats to take a...

On the eve of the German federal election, a panel of experts will weigh in on the various issues concerning German voters, the legacy of outgoing Chancellor Angela Merkel, the potential impact of this election on the EU and Germany’s relationship with the U.S., and the significance of the Green Party mounting their first ever...

There has been a lot of uncertainty surrounding Germany’s federal election. But one thing is clear: Angela Merkel is not running again. As the traditional catch-all Volksparteien – the Christian Democrats and the Social Democrats – have lost traction in recent years, three candidates compete to replace her. In the final days before Germans take to the...