Whither the Greens?
Özdemir’s unexpected triumph and the future of the party The Green Party, led by talismanic candidate Cem Özdemir, finished first on March 8 in the Baden-Württemberg state elections with 30.2 …
AGI Profiles: Leif-Erik Holm
Member of the Bundestag; AfD State Chairman in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania Leif-Erik Holm is a father, politician, loyal party member, local celebrity, and a “nice guy.” A founder of the Alternative …
Time for a Change?
Thoughts on the National Anthem of Germany The story of the Deutschlandlied (song of Germany) is one of turbulence and shifting perceptions. It was written in 1841 by August Heinrich …
Gender-Blind, Not Gender-Neutral
Friedrich Merz and Pension Reform Hoping, for the third time, to become CDU party chair, Friedrich Merz declared in January 2021: “I know that we have to be better and …
AGI Profiles: Bärbel Bas
Federal Minister of Labor and Social Affairs Over the last few years, Bärbel Bas has emerged as one of the more prominent figures in German politics. At the 2025 party …
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AGI Profiles: Ulrich Siegmund
Member of the Landtag of Saxony-Anhalt; AfD Parliamentary Group Leader Ulrich Siegmund is becoming a star within the ranks of the Alternative für Deutschland (AfD). He is a salesman by …
Grassroots LGBTQ+ Resistance to Federal Pressures
Over the course of 2025, the Trump administration has implemented policies and executive orders designed to roll back diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives; defund support services for vulnerable groups, including …
Building Resilience
How LGBTQ+ Organizations in Germany and the United States Navigate Right-Wing Backlash Participants in the American-German Institute program “Building LGBTQ+ Communities in Germany and the United States” gathered in Washington, …
150 Days of the Merz Government
Between Reform and Restraint When Friedrich Merz entered office as chancellor in May 2025, he did so under the banner of stability and reform. After the collapse of Olaf Scholz’s …
“We do not have any fax machines and we have no plans to buy any”*
Germany’s New Digital Ministry Germany has established its first-ever ministry dedicated solely to all matters digital. Spearheaded by political newcomer Karsten Wildberger, the Ministry for Digital and State Modernization aims …
AGI Profiles: Karsten Wildberger
Federal Minister for Digital and State Modernization Karsten Wildberger is a newcomer in more ways than one. His appointment as Germany’s first-ever Minister for Digital and State Modernization appeared as …
The Social Democrats Give Their Leader a Yellow Card, Green Light for Stronger Defense
Chancellor Friedrich Merz has devoted significant energy in his first two months in office to restoring Germany’s international partnerships, strengthening the Bundeswehr and hardening the country’s Russia policy. His success depends …
Chancellor Merz and Germany’s ‘New Determination’
In a June 24 address to the German parliament, Chancellor Friedrich Merz delivered a Regierungserklärung (government declaration) that highlighted a profound shift in Germany’s strategic outlook, characterized by what he …
Friedrich Merz, Germany’s European Vision, and the Constraints of German Coalition Politics
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has been having quite a run. His chancellorship stumbled briefly out of the gate, with a second round of voting necessary in the Bundestag on May …
