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New Coalition Pulls Germany's Merkel to the Right

By David Francis 27 Oct 2009 | World Politics Review BERLIN -- For weeks, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and her Christian Democratic Party have been locked in tough negotiations with the Free Democrats over both cabinet appointments and tax policy. In the end, Merkel was the one to compromise, suggesting that she might increasingly find her centrist roots at odds with her preferred coalition partner on the right.

Merkel's Victory Sets Stage for Policy Shifts

By David Francis 28 Sep 2009 | World Politics Review BERLIN -- After four years of an uncomfortable alliance with the liberal Social Democratic Party marked more by inaction that by any major initiatives, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and her conservative Christian Democrat party won a sweeping victory in federal elections here yesterday, putting the legislative pieces in place to make significant policy changes in her second term.

German Election Marked by Indifference

By David Francis 25 Sep 2009 | World Politics Review BERLIN -- Just days ahead of Sunday's general election that will decide the next German chancellor, there is a noticeable lack of interest among the public, the media, and even the candidates themselves. The widespread indifference comes at a time when Germany nevertheless faces a number of difficult issues, including an unpopular war in Afghanistan and the country's tenuous economic recovery.

Airstrike Turns Afghanistan Into a Campaign Issue in Germany

By David Francis 09 Sep 2009 | World Politics Review BERLIN -- The German public and many left-leaning members of parliament have expressed shock and anger over Germany's role in an airstrike in Afghanistan last week that killed an as-yet-undetermined number of Afghan civilians. German opinion is largely opposed to the NATO mission in Afghanistan. But until now, the war had remained largely absent from the campaign for upcoming general elections.

Drop in Support for Merkel's CDU

By David Francis 01 Sep 2009 | WPR Blog BERLIN -- Setbacks in local elections threaten Merkel's coalition plans.

As Violence Grows Along Border, Congress Debates Funding for Fighting Mexican Drug Cartels

By David Francis 07 Mar 2008 | World Politics Review Exclusive CIUDAD JUÁREZ, Mexico - Despite a number of significant steps to increase security along the U.S.-Mexican border in recent years, violence along the frontier is growing as Mexican drug cartels increase their involvement in human and drug smuggling into the United States. Meanwhile, a Bush administration initiative to provide significant law enforcement aid to Mexico is stalled in Congress amid old questions about the best way to fight the drug war.

In Brussels, NATO, EU Officials Ambivalent About Russian Election

By David Francis 05 Mar 2008 | World Politics Review Exclusive BRUSSELS -- NATO and European Union officials in Brussels met the landslide election victory of former Russian President Vladimir Putin's chosen successor, Dmitry Medvedev, with ambivalence this week. Officials of both bodies expressed little optimism that a change of leadership will bring any great change in the state of Russia's democracy. A NATO official said the body's main concern is that the strategic partnership between the security alliance and Russia continue under Medvedev's government.