Social Democrats

Germany needs further coronavirus restrictions to combat a record surge in infections and "get through this winter", the country's likely next leader Olaf Scholz said on Nov. 11, calling a national meeting to decide new curbs.

In an address late on Sunday evening, Zoran Zaev said he is resigning from his position as North Macedonia's Prime Minister and as leader of the Social Democrats, after the party's defeat in the capital of Skopje and other important towns to the opposition right-wing VMRO DPMNE party during the election runoffs this weekend.

Ljubljana – The National Assembly endorsed at first reading on Tuesday changes to the gaming act that introduce partial liberalisation of the field and allow for multiple organisers of classic games of chance. The centre-left opposition obstructed the session. Employees from the gaming sector and charities strongly oppose the changes.

Ivan Bartos (l), leader of the Pirate Party, stands next to Vít Rakušan (R), leader of the Mayors and Independents party. Photo: Pirate Party Polarised

Polls published through September suggest that the twin coalitions are close to securing a combined 43.5 per cent of the vote, which could be just enough to win 101 of the 200 seats in parliament's lower house.

Eighteen candidates of Turkish descent have been elected as lawmakers in Germany's federal parliament, Bundestag, in the country's elections that took place on Sept. 26.

The Social Democratic Party (SPD) won the most parliamentary seats in the national elections, while Angela Merkel's conservative CDU/CSU bloc came in second, preliminary official results showed on Sept. 27.

Germany is headed for weeks, if not months, of protracted coalition haggling as Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservatives insisted on Sept. 27 on trying to form a government even after losing to the Social Democrats in a tight race.

The German Social Democratic Party (GSDP) won the Bundestag election, ahead of Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservative bloc, the DPA reported, citing data posted on the federal election commission's website after the vote count.

The SDP receives 25.7 percent of the vote, its best result in years.

Germany braced for a period of political unpredictability on Sept. 27 after the Social Democrats narrowly won a general election but faced a rival claim to power from outgoing Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservative camp.

Chancellor Angela Merkel's last trip abroad should take her to the Balkans. The media mention the meeting with the leaders of the Western Balkans in Tirana (September 14), but it is unofficially heard that the Chancellor could visit Belgrade beforehand. There is no official confirmation in Berlin yet.

Ljubljana – Four centre-left parties are planning to file a motion to vote Education Minister Simona Kustec out of office, arguing that two weeks before the start of the new school year, it is still not clear how primary and secondary schools will organise the education process while the epidemiological situation in the country is deteriorating.