FEATURED COMMENTARY & ANALYSIS

Bavaria election casts doubt on Merkel’s grand coalition

New Atlanticist
May 6, 2025

Is Merz’s double-take chancellor vote a sign of things to come in Germany?

By
Jörn Fleck and Jurek Wille

It took two rounds of voting in the Bundestag to elect Friedrich Merz chancellor, a sign of division unprecedented in modern German history.

Defense Policy
Elections

Bavaria election casts doubt on Merkel’s grand coalition

New Atlanticist
Feb 19, 2025

Germany’s economy has gone from engine to anchor. Here’s what the next chancellor faces.

By
Piotr Arak

Revitalizing growth in Germany’s economy, which appears increasingly mired in stagnation, will demand urgent action from the next chancellor.

Economy & Business
Elections

Bavaria election casts doubt on Merkel’s grand coalition

New Atlanticist
Feb 4, 2025

The next German chancellor must lead from the front, not the middle, on European security

By
Rachel Rizzo, James Batchik

From support for Ukraine to defense spending, German leaders would be wise to take the phrase Führung aus der Mitte permanently out of their vocabulary.

Elections
Germany

Events

Online Event
Tue, May 6, 2025 • 10:00 am ET

What to expect from Germany’s next government

Elections
Europe & Eurasia
European Union
Germany

Online Event
Tue, February 25, 2025 • 9:00 am ET

Debriefing Germany’s federal elections

Elections
European Union
Germany
Politics & Diplomacy

Program

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Content

New Atlanticist

Oct 15, 2018

Bavaria election casts doubt on Merkel’s grand coalition

By Jörn Fleck and Alex Baker

With both Christian Democrats and Social Democrats suffering heavy losses, is this the beginning of the end for German Chancellor Angela Merkel's grand coalition?

Elections Germany

New Atlanticist

Oct 10, 2018

Here’s why Angela Merkel will be paying attention to Bavaria’s election (and you should too)

By Jörn Fleck and Alex Baker

The bigger question for German and perhaps European politics will be how the CSU reacts to a likely loss of an absolute majority at home.

Elections Germany

New Atlanticist

Sep 25, 2018

Europe unlikely to avoid Trump’s Iran sanctions

By Samantha Sultoon

The establishment of a sanctions evasion tool would undermine the EU’s own sanctions enforcement by creating a domestic workaround that could to be applied to any other sanctions program now or in the future.

Economic Sanctions France

New Atlanticist

Aug 17, 2018

What will Merkel decide on Nord Stream 2?

By Agnia Grigas

Given that Russia is known for using energy as a tool of foreign policy, exporting corruption via its business dealings and seeking to fracture the unity of the EU and NATO, the Nord Stream 2 pipeline is about much more than gas for both Washington and the European Union.

European Union Eurozone

New Atlanticist

Aug 17, 2018

A breakthrough in Berlin? Not so fast.

By Jörn Fleck

Moscow’s vocal reaction to the new US sanctions may also signal Putin’s willingness to pursue a renewed dialogue with Germany.

Economic Sanctions Germany

New Atlanticist

Aug 14, 2018

Can lowering trade barriers fuel American energy exports to Europe?

By Barbara C. Matthews, Earl Anthony Wayne, and Richard Morningstar

The EU’s efforts to diversify its energy imports through increased reliance on American LNG exports therefore presents a geo-strategic opportunity to increase energy and political security in Europe and bolster the transatlantic relationship in the process.

European Union Germany

In the News

Aug 13, 2018

Fleck Quoted in Newsweek on German-Russia Meeting over Nord Stream 2

By Jorn Fleck

Read the full article here

Germany Russia

In the News

Aug 13, 2018

Shaffer quoted in Newsweek on Merkel-Putin Meeting and Nord Stream 2 Implications

By Brenda Shaffer

Read the full article here.

Germany Russia

In the News

Aug 13, 2018

Fleck Quoted in Newsweek on Merkel-Putin Meeting

By Jorn Fleck

Read the full article here.

Germany Russia

In the News

Jul 27, 2018

Fleck Quoted in Newsweek on the Immigration Debate in Germany

By Jorn Fleck

Read the full article here.

Germany
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Experts

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Nik Foster

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Global China Hub

China Energy & Environment

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Samuel Denney

Nonresident Fellow

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English Europe & Eurasia

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Tyson Barker

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Europe Center

Cybersecurity Digital Policy

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James Batchik

Associate Director

Europe Center

Central Europe Digital Policy

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Noel Coenraad

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Millennium Leadership Program

Energy Transitions Germany

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Hanna Dohmen

Nonresident Fellow

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