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German leader outraged at Schroeder birthday visit to Putin
Chancellor Friedrich Merz is outraged that former German leader Gerhard Schroeder visited Vladimir Putin in Moscow on the Russian president's...
Germany's Chancellor Friedrich Merz is "deeply outraged" by former Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder's visit to Vladimir Putin's home to celebrate the Russian president's birthday this week, a German government spokesperson said on Friday.
Schroeder, who served as chancellor from 1998 to 2005, has faced criticism in Germany and abroad over his links to Russian business and Putin, ties that have persisted despite Moscow's 2022 invasion of Ukraine and subsequent waves of Western sanctions.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz is warning that extremism is gaining ground in Germany, as his government faces growing political pressure from the far-right Alternative for Germany. Speaking in the Bundestag, Merz acknowledged that some of the anger driving extremism stems from legitimate grievances, but called for constructive action rather than division.His warning comes as his conservatives struggle in the polls DW's Berlin Bureau Chief Max Hofmann examines Merz's speech, the rise of the AfD and the future of Germany's governing coalition.
Violence erupted in Germany after thousands of Gen Z protesters took to the streets across 34 cities, demanding better education, lower living costs and an end to compulsory military service. In Frankfurt, demonstrators looted stores and clashed with police, who used tear gas and water cannons to disperse crowds. Incidents were also reported in Berlin, Cologne and Hamburg. German authorities warned that extremist groups could exploit the movement. The protests come amid economic pressures on young Germans and a wider wave of youth-led demonstrations across Europe, including major protests in France and Serbia.
German government has accused certain left related groups of inciting rioting in German cities that saw demonstrations this past week. A few cities saw instances of sporadic looting.