A 41-year-old Eritrean man from Switzerland faces trial in Germany for allegedly pushing an eight-year-old boy and his mother onto the tracks of an Intercity Express train at the Frankfurt central station in July; the boy was killed, but his mother survived. A psychiatric assessment showed that the man suffered from an episode of schizophrenia and had "at least a considerably reduced ability" to control his actions. The incident triggered reactions from across the German federal government, who have called for a review of the country's immigration policies. 2020-08-19
Following a disappointing state election on Sunday, German chancellor Angela Merkel announces that she will not seek re-election as party head at a conference in early December and as German chancellor in 2021. 2018-10-29
An estimated 20,000 people protest against an Alternative for Germany rally attracting 5,000 demonstrators in Berlin; 2,000 police are deployed. 2018-05-27
Angela Merkel is elected and sworn in for a new term as Chancellor of Germany. Olaf Scholz and Heiko Maas assume the positions of Vice-Chancellor and Federal Minister of Foreign Affairs respectively. 2018-03-14
SPD party members approve with 66% in favour to allow to form a coalition with Angela Merkel's CDU-CSU, ending a five-month political deadlock after the federal elections. 2018-03-4
Postal ballots of the 2018 SPD coalition party member vote are due. The vote will determine if the SPD is allowed to form a coalition with Angela Merkel's CDU. 2018-03-2
Martin Schulz resigns as leader of the Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD) with immediate effect. The mayor of Hamburg Olaf Scholz will serve as interim leader until a new leader is elected. 2018-02-13
The Landtag of the Free State of Saxony has lifted the immunity of Frauke Petry, Party Chair in the Alternative for Germany party, opening the way for prosecutors to pursue possible perjury charges against her concerning statements made to a committee of the Saxony parliament about how the party’s campaign for the 2014 election was financed. 2017-08-29
One hundred German political and business leaders publish an appeal to Iran to free two German reporters imprisoned in Iran since October after being arrested while interviewing the son of Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani who has been sentenced to death for murder, manslaughter, and adultery. 2011-01-2