Greens triumph as German governing parties perform poorly

News

Greens triumph as German governing parties perform poorly

2019-05-27 02:48 Last Updated At：02:50

Germany's governing parties were headed for their worst post-World War II showing in a nationwide election on Sunday amid discontent with their stuttering performance over the past year, with the Greens surging to second place in the European Parliament vote amid increasing concern about climate change.

Projections for ARD and ZDF public television, based on exit polls and partial counting, put support for Chancellor Angela Merkel's center-right Union bloc at around 28% and the Social Democrats, their partners in an often-fractious "grand coalition" of what have traditionally been Germany's biggest parties, around 15.5%. Five years ago, they took 35.4% and 27.3% respectively.

The Greens powered past the Social Democrats into second place, increasing their score to around 21%, the projections showed. That is nearly double their 10.7% showing in 2014.

It was an indifferent evening for the far-right Alternative for Germany, which celebrated increasing its presence in the European Parliament but looked set to fall short of its showing in Germany's 2017 national election. The party was seen taking about 10.5%, up from 7.1% five years ago.

It wasn't immediately clear whether the outcome would further destabilize Merkel's national governing coalition, following long-running speculation that its end could be hastened by poor results Sunday.

The Social Democrats appeared on course for another disastrous result in a state election in Bremen, a longtime stronghold, also held Sunday. Three further state elections in eastern Germany await this fall — as does as a previously agreed review of the coalition's work, halfway through the scheduled parliamentary term.

Merkel has said she won't run for a fifth term in the next national election, which isn't due until 2021, but questions have swirled over whether the government will last that long. It took six months to form that government after Germany's last election, and its image was tarnished by infighting last year.

Merkel largely stayed out of this campaign, which was a first test for Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer, her successor since December as leader of the Christian Democratic Union party. Kramp-Karrenbauer told supporters in Berlin that "this election result does not do justice to the expectations we have of ourselves as a major party."

She said that the government hasn't yet "given the convincing answers that citizens in Germany demand," conceding that climate protection and adapting to "the digital world" had been weak points.

In the days before the election, a prominent YouTuber racked up millions of views with a video skewering the CDU's policies on climate change and other issues. Kramp-Karrenbauer promised that the party will "roll up our sleeves."

Senior Social Democrats, meanwhile, sought to head off speculation about the future of the party's often-criticized leader, Andrea Nahles. Vice Chancellor Olaf Scholz, a Social Democrat, said that "calling for personal consequences won't get us anywhere."

Scholz congratulated the Greens, who appear to have gained at his party's expense. He said it's clear that "we need a really clear response to the question for humanity of climate change" and pledged that his party won't make the "wrong compromises."

Katrin Goering-Eckart, one of the Greens' leaders in Berlin, told The Associated Press that it was "a sensational result."

Asked about possible implications for the governing coalition, she said that that is a question for the parties concerned, but "you can't govern sensibly without climate protection. That definitely has to change."

Germany will likely miss its goal of cutting carbon emissions by 40% by 2020. A government-appointed expert panel has agreed that coal burning should end by 2038, though activists would like to see that happen earlier.

As for the other parties in Germany's parliament, both the pro-business Free Democrats and the Left Party were expected to take about 5.5% support. A number of very small parties were likely to get European Parliament lawmakers, since — unlike in German national elections — parties don't have to get 5% of the vote to win seats.

Frank Jordans in Berlin contributed to this report.

Macron outlines his vision for Europe to become an assertive global power as war in Ukraine rages on

2024-04-26 00:49 Last Updated At：00:52

PARIS (AP) — French President Emmanuel Macron warned Thursday that Europe could “die” if it fails to build its own robust defense as Russia’s war in Ukraine rages on, or if it fails to undertake major trade and economic reforms to compete with China and the U.S.

Macron urged Europeans to become more ambitious in a fast-changing world to face the challenges of war, fierce trade competition, energy scarcity, climate change and increasing authoritarianism.

In a nearly two-hour speech at Sorbonne University in Paris, Macron said that the continent is divided and “too slow and lacks ambition” at a time when the 27-member European Union needs to become a superpower, defend its own borders and speak with one voice if it wants to survive and thrive.

“Our Europe today is mortal,” Macron said. “It can die and that depends solely on our choices,” he added. He called on people to make those choices now because, “it’s today that Europe is between war and peace.”

Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, now in its third year, is an existential threat and Europe isn't armed enough to defend itself when “confronted by a power like Russia that has no inhibitions, no limits,” Macron said.

‘Our ability to ensure our security is at stake," Macron said. “Russia mustn’t be allowed to win.”

Europe now has the “good fortune” of having the Biden administration’s commitment to supporting Ukraine, Macron said. But, in a year of key elections around Europe, in the U.S. and elsewhere, support may fragment or disappear entirely, he added.

“Europe must become capable of defending its interests, with its allies by our side whenever they are willing, and alone if necessary,” Macron said.

Strong armies, a European rapid intervention program and force, tanks, a missile shield and other weapons, produced in Europe, will need the support of “a joint diplomatic force that will speak with one voice and build bridges with Africa and Latin America,” the French leader said.

“Only then will Europe show that it's not a United States’ lap dog, and that it also knows how to talk to other regions of the world,” he said.

France has been a firm supporter of Ukraine in its fight against Russian aggression, and Macron has often clashed with other Western leaders as he has insisted that Europe must stand by the country at any cost. The French president alarmed European leaders by saying recently that sending Western troops into Ukraine to shore up its defenses shouldn’t be ruled out.

Referring to trade practices of China and the U.S., Macron said “the two world powers have decided not to respect the rules of global trade” by shoring up protections and subsides while Europe’s industry remains open and is stuck in overregulation.

“Let’s do the same, we are in competition,” Macron said.

“We must buy faster, we must produce more and we must buy more that is made in Europe. That is key,” Macron said.

Thursday's speech came less than two months before a pivotal European Parliament election.

Macron, an avid advocate of a united and assertive Europe, also rallied support for his centrist Renaissance party before the June 6-9 vote as far-right parties lead the moderate coalitions in the polls. He called for safeguarding democratic values as the “authoritarian model” was becoming “more popular” across the continent.

The war in Ukraine and immigration are top priorities for European Union voters, according to polls. Far-right parties have gained support by criticizing Macron’s government policies on both issues. Macron acknowledged divisions on immigration policies, including on asylum and deportation rules for those who have arrived to Europe illegally.

He emphasized the need for an effective response and Europe-wide coordination for curbing illegal immigration, closer cooperation with immigrants' countries of origin and a unified, relentless fight against human traffickers.

Macron criticized the idea of striking an agreement, as Britain as done, with countries in Africa and elsewhere to transfer immigrants there.

“This is a betrayal of our values that ultimately leads us to dependency on other counties,” Macron said.

The British government earlier this week approved a law allowing the deportation of some migrants who enter the country illegally to Rwanda.

Macron lost his majority in France’s most influential house of parliament, the National Assembly, after the 2022 election to the far-left coalition and the far-right National Rally party.

The social situation in France remains tense as Paris prepares to host the Olympic Games this summer, amid protests from teachers and police officers, and farmer demonstrations in recent weeks. The protests follow huge rallies last year against Macron’s ultimately successful proposal to increase the retirement age from 62 to 64.

Barbara Surk reported from Nice, France. Lorne Cook contributed to this report from Brussels.

Greens triumph as German governing parties perform poorly

News

Greens triumph as German governing parties perform poorly

Next Article

Macron outlines his vision for Europe to become an assertive global power as war in Ukraine rages on

EU military officer says a frigate has destroyed a drone launched from Yemen’s Houthi-held areas

Poland’s prime minister celebrates after his party wins a string of cities in mayoral votes

European nations with Patriots hesitate to give their missile systems to Ukraine

Reuters photographer wins World Press Photo of the Year with poignant shot from Gaza

Defense and security are on citizens’ minds before the EU Parliament elections, a survey finds

EU leaders vow to impose tougher sanctions against Iran as Ukraine’s president pleads for support

Hungary’s leader calls for change at the top in June European elections at a far right gathering