To gauge the balance of power in Angela Merkel’s new government, look at where she’s placed her top political fixer.The German chancellor has entrusted Peter Altmaier with a key mission: bulking up the Economy Ministry, traditionally a relative backwater in policy terms, and turning it into a counterweight to the powerful finance post.As Merkel embarks on her hard-won fourth term, critics in her own party bloc still bemoan her decision to cede the Finance Ministry to the Social Democrats in a deal which helped seal their coalition. Yet it’s beginning to look like a reality she can turn to her advantage.The debt crisis that marked the peak of the Finance Ministry’s dominance over euro policy has faded. Wolfgang Schaeuble, whose decades of experience contributed to the ministry’s supremacy, has moved on to preside over the Bundestag. And with attention now shifting to trade conflicts, artificial intelligence and scrutiny of Chinese investments, Merkel has … [Read more...] about Follow Merkel’s Political Fixer for Hints on Germany’s Direction
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Stormy protest in Barcelona after Germany arrests Puigdemont
Thousands of Catalan separatists hit the streets of Barcelona on Sunday (25 March), vowing the arrest of former Catalan president Carles Puigdemont in Germany would not stop their push for independence. Some threw garbage cans at Catalan police in riot gear, who responded by beating demonstrators with their batons or firing warning shots in the air. “This Europe is shameful!,” they chanted as they marched by the office of the European Commission in the Catalan capital. Despite the efforts of Puigdemont, who fled to Brussels after the Catalan parliament declared independence on 27 October and Madrid countered by taking control of the region, no European Union member state backed the secessionist cause. Outside of the German consulate demonstrators held up a photo of German Chancellor Angela Merkel sporting a Hitler-style moustache. The supporters of former Catalonia’s president Puigdemont, now under judicial custody in Germany, rally at Barcelona comparing Merkel to … [Read more...] about Stormy protest in Barcelona after Germany arrests Puigdemont
Former Catalan leader Puigdemont arrested in Germany
German police have detained the former Catalan president Carles Puigdemont on a European arrest warrant. Puigdemont had entered Germany from Denmark after leaving Finland on Friday when it appeared police would arrest him there and launch an extradition process requested by Spain. The former Catalan regional president was en route to Belgium where he has been living in self-imposed exile since late last year. Puigdemont faces up to 25 years in prison in Spain on charges of rebellion and sedition for organising an illegal referendum for Catalonia that led to a unilateral declaration of independence in October. Tensions in Catalonia are very high and its separatist leaders abandoned plans to name a new president following the arrest of the latest candidate, Jordi Turull, on Friday. Crowds of protesters had clashed with police in Barcelona on Friday night after Spain’s Supreme Court ruled 25 Catalan leaders should be tried for rebellion, embezzlement or … [Read more...] about Former Catalan leader Puigdemont arrested in Germany
Former Catalan president Carles Puigdemont detained in Germany
Carles Puigdemont, the deposed Catalan president, was on Sunday detained by police at the German border after Spain reactivated an international warrant for his arrest on charges of rebellion over October’s referendum and declaration of independence. Mr Puigdemont’s lawyer, Jaume Alonso-Cuevillas, said he was detained while crossing the border from Denmark by car on his way back to Belgium from Finland, where he had travelled to speak at an event. "By now he is in a police station and his legal defence has already been activated," Mr Alonso-Cuevillas said. The Spanish Supreme Court reissued European Arrest Warrants for Mr Puigdemont and four members of his former cabinet on Friday after charging 13 Catalan independence leaders with rebellion and misappropriation of funds. The charges could see them jailed for up to 30 years. International arrest warrants were issued for two other separatist politicians, Ana Gabriel and Marta Rovira, who are … [Read more...] about Former Catalan president Carles Puigdemont detained in Germany
Catalonia ex-leader Carles Puigdemont ‘detained in Germany’
The lawyer of fugitive Catalan ex-leader Carles Puigdemont says his client is being held by German police. Puigdemont was stopped at the Danish border with Germany, a spokesperson of his party told AFP news agency on Sunday. The separatist leader is being sought by Spanish authorities on charges of rebellion and had recently left Finland before authorities there could act on a warrent against him. … [Read more...] about Catalonia ex-leader Carles Puigdemont ‘detained in Germany’