Sebastien Ash

BERLIN, GERMANY – FEBRUARY 25: Friedrich Merz, Chairman of the CDU (Christian Democratic Union) and chancellor candidate, is pictured before the Constituent Parliamentary Group Meeting of the CDU/CSU after the federal election on February 25, 2025 in Berlin, Germany. (Photo by Florian Gaertner/Photothek via Getty Images)

Germany’s winning conservatives push for ‘speedy’ grand coalition talks with Social Democrats

By Sebastien Ash and AFP

MUNICH, GERMANY – FEBRUARY 22: Alexander Dobrind (L), chairman of the CSU Parliamentary Group in the German Bundestag and Friedrich Merz, CDU/CSU chancellor candidate and leader of the German Christian Democrats (CDU) clap hands at the Loewenbraeukeller beer hall at the final CDU/CSU campaign rally head of German elections on February 22, 2025 in Munich, Germany. Germany is scheduled to hold snap federal paliamentary elections tomorrow. (Photo by Johannes Simon/Getty Images)

A major shift to the right in Germany as conservatives win elections, followed by far-right AfD in second place

By Frank Zeller, Sebastien Ash, and others

dpatop – 12 September 2024, Hesse, Frankfurt/Main: Christine Lagarde, President of the European Central Bank (ECB), speaks at the press conference after the Governing Council meeting of the ECB. Photo: Boris Roessler/dpa (Photo by Boris Roessler/picture alliance via Getty Images)

ECB expected to lower interest rates once again as inflation in the eurozone fades

By Sam Reeves, Sebastien Ash, and others

02 September 2024, Thuringia, Erfurt: Björn Höcke (AfD, M), party and parliamentary group leader of the AfD in Thuringia and top candidate, leaves the AfD election party. The election party took place in Thuringia on Sunday. Photo: Daniel Vogl/dpa (Photo by Daniel Vogl/picture alliance via Getty Images)

Rise of the anti-immigration AfD threatens Germany’s ‘firewall’ against the far-right

By Sebastien Ash and AFP