CDU party

Weidel stated that if her party, which is constantly growing in popularity, wins the elections, she will ask for a referendum on leaving the European Union.

Germans were warned on Nov. 22 they would be "vaccinated, cured or dead" from COVID-19 by the end of winter, as Europe battles an upsurge in the pandemic that prompted a U.S. travel advisory.

Belgium and the Netherlands are still reeling from clashes that rocked weekend protests against new anti-COVID measures.

The leadership of Angela Merkel's Christian Democratic Union (CDU) has backed its head Armin Laschet as the conservative bloc's candidate for chancellor in the upcoming German federal elections, dpa reported.

Armin Laschet, leader of Germany's Christian Democrats (CDU), won the backing of senior party members at an internal meeting to run as the conservative candidate to succeed Angela Merkel at a September federal election, party sources said on April 20.

Germany's total coronavirus cases topped two million on Jan. 15, as Chancellor Angela Merkel pushed for a "significant" tightening of restrictions to slow the infection rate.

A German neo-Nazi stands trial Tuesday on charges of murdering pro-refugee politician Walter Luebcke, in a case that shocked the country and highlighted the growing threat of right-wing extremism.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Thursday (Jun 4) she is "absolutely not" planning to stand for re-election to a fifth term despite her overwhelming popularity.

"No, absolutely not," Merkel told reporters from public broadcaster ZDF, saying her decision was "very firm".

When it comes to political heavyweights in Europe, the German chancellor has long been top of the list.

This was stated on Tuesday in Belgrade by European parliament member (MEP) Eduard Kukan.

And the German position in question was put forward last week, also in Belgrade, by an MP from German Chancellor Angela Merkel's CDU party.

Peter Tauber, secretary-general of German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s conservative CDU party, will step down from his post for health reasons, party sources have said.