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German election: What do the terms 'right' and 'left' mean, if both CDU and SPD are in the center? 24.09.2017

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Germany decides

Germans are voting in a nationwide election that is expected to deliver a fourth term to Chancellor Angela Merkel. It is also expected to see the right-wing populist AfD party enter parliament for the first time. Go to article

How does the German general election work?

A pair of hands slides a ballot into a box sealed with an orange lock

On September 24, Germans head to the polls in a parliamentary vote that will determine whether Angela Merkel remains chancellor. DW breaks down the ins-and-outs of the Bundestag election process.

U.S. Air Force - B-52 und F-16 (picture alliance/Newscom/U.S. Air Force/Senior Airman Erin Babis)

German parties' stances on foreign policy, security

With Germany playing a larger international role, foreign policy and global security are major campaign issues. Here's where the major political parties stand on issues ranging from NATO to North Korea.

German parties' stances on asylum, migration

Since Chancellor Angela Merkel opened the borders to refugees in 2015, asylum and immigration topics have dominated German politics. Where do the right-wing AfD and the mainstream parties stand on these issues?

DW exclusive: How German companies donate secret money to political parties

Euro coin (picture-alliance/dpa/J. Stratenschulte)

German political parties have received over 200 million euros in donations over the last four years, but only 13 million was immediately reported. A DW investigation shows how firms systematically hide party donations.

Candidates make last appeals ahead of voting

Martin Schulz makes last-ditch efforts to gain voters in Aachen, near his hometown (Reuters/T.Schmuelgen)

The SPD may be down in the polls, but Martin Schulz hasn't given up the race. Angela Merkel's rivals have spent the weekend crisscrossing the country to pick up last-minute votes. DW's Rebecca Staudenmaier reports.

Chancellor Merkel campaigning in Munich two days before the election says she represents stability.

Germany at the polls - a look at the leaders

Angela Merkel is the favorite to occupy the chancellor's seat for the next four years as polls show her CDU party ahead. But here's a look at other party heads who are hoping to improve the standing of their parties.

A German voter casting a ballot (Getty Images)

Germany's colorful coalition 'shorthand'

Symbolism in the guise of foreign flags and even traffic lights is used to describe the various coalitions that could emerge from Germany's federal election, when counting ends and inter-party negotiations begin.

US sends bombers over North Korean coast

In a display of military strength, US bombers and fighter escorts have flown over North Korea. As the war of words ramped up, the move was designed to show Pyongyang that President Donald Trump means business.

NBA champs nix visiting 'bum' in White House

USA Basketballer Stephen Curry Pressekonferenz in Oakland (picture-alliance/AP Photo/J. McCauley)

Captain Stephen Curry and his NBA championship team have decided to boycott their invitation to meet US President Donald Trump. This was the second time Trump earned the ire of a professional sports league in two days.

Indian guru arrested on rape charges

Indien Eisenbahn Überfüllter Zug (Imago)

A popular guru was arrested Saturday by police in north-western India for allegedly raping a 21-year-old woman. The second such arrest in the country in recent weeks has triggered fears of more rioting by supporters.

NZ election challenger not ready to concede

New Zealand Prime Minister Bill English, leader of the National Party

No party won an overall majority in New Zealand's general election. The anti-immigration New Zealand First party will play a key role in deciding which major party it will support to form the next government.

Upstart Italian party has a new leader

Italien Politiker Luigi Di Maio in Rom (picture-alliance/dpa/ANSA/A. Carconi)

A 31-year-old politician has been chosen to lead the anti-establishment Five Star Movement ahead of national elections. With M5S clearly ahead of traditional parties in the polls, he may be Italy's next prime minister.

Peeved off and nowhere to go in Amsterdam

Bildergalerie Fußball WM Kurios (picture-alliance/dpa)

Women in five Dutch cities took to the streets on Saturday in protest at the paucity of female-friendly public toilets. The protests took the form of peeing in the street, an act that can be punished by a 90 euro fine.

Car bomber targets NATO convoy in Afghanistan

Afghanistan Kabul attentat mit Autobombe auf NATO Konvoi (Reuters/O. Sobhani)

At least three civilians were wounded when a suicide car bomb targeted a convoy of foreign forces in Kabul. A NATO team has arrived at the scene of the blast.

French leftists protest Macron's reforms

Protesters in Paris march with banners, placards and flags against President Macron's labor reforms.

The protesters oppose sweeping changes to France's labor code, which make it easier to lay off workers. But Macron defends his reforms, saying they're needed to bring down France's stubbornly high unemployment rate.

US confirms 2016 vote machine hackings

Elaine Duke with a department flag hanging in the background

US officials have confirmed that last year the Russian government tried to hack voting machines in some states for the 2016 presidential election. Some officials found out only Friday their states were on the list.

Puerto Rico evacuates as dam poses flood risk

The clear-up following Hurricane Maria has started on Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico has evacuated thousands of people as a major dam failed, threatening communities downstream. At least 13 people died as Hurricane Maria hit the island, knocking out power and causing destruction.

Miss Turkey's title revoked over coup tweet

She was set to represent Turkey at the Miss World competition in China. But organizers of the Miss Turkey pageant changed their minds after finding an old tweet about last year's failed military coup.

Kenya's Eliud Kipchoge wins Berlin marathon

Olympic champion Eliud Kipchoge has won the men's title in the Berlin Marathon, but missed out on breaking the world record. Fellow Kenyan Gladys Cherono claimed victory in the women's event.

Hijacked 'Landshut' plane back in Germany

Brazil takes apart the German Lufthansa plane Landeshut (picture-alliance/dpa/P. Wagner)

The German aircraft was hijacked by Palestinian militants in 1977 and taken to Somalia. The plane, which is a reminder of the so-called "German Autumn," will now be put on display at a museum in Friedrichshafen.

EU expects more clarity, specifics from May

Theresa May speaking in Florence (picture-alliance/AP Photo/J. J. Mitchell)

The EU's chief Brexit negotiator said UK Prime Minister Theresa May's speech showed a "constructive spirit" to move forward, but demanded concrete proposals for the negotiations. DW's Bernd Riegert reports from Brussels.

Activists occupy Berlin's Volksbühne theater

The Volksbühne theater has been at the center of controversy since its new director took the reins last month. Now an art collective has seized control of the building with plans to put on its own performance program.

A hand places the German flag in the ballot box (picture-alliance/U. Baumgarten)

Opinion

The most boring election ever? Think again

If this election is anything like the last three, Germans will vote, and Angela Merkel will become chancellor. Even so, the race is still not over, and many exciting questions remain unanswered, writes DW's Dagmar Engel.

Watch video 00:33

DW reports live as #GermanyDecides

DW will have all the numbers as they come in as well as in-depth analysis of Sunday's German election.

Dutch women protest lack of female-friendly public toilets

Indian guru arrested on rape charges

21 US states targeted by Russian hackers, no votes changed

US sends bombers over North Korean coast

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DW (English) Live

Euromaxx - Special Edition: Democracy

Coming up at 14:00 UTC: DW News

06.17. Germany Decides Picture-Teaser Englisch

All of DW's German election coverage 20.09.2017

How is the chancellor chosen? What parties will make it into parliament? What issues are on voters' minds? Get the answers to these and other questions with DW's election special.

A rundown of Germany's major political parties

Chancellor Angela Merkel is seeking a fourth term in office, but the election race may not see a clear winner. Coalition building may prove interesting. Here's a who's who of German political parties.

Angela Merkel: The eternal chancellor

Berlin models of Angel Merkel at Madame Tussauds wax museum

20-year-olds barely can remember life before Merkel. She has been Germany's leading political figure for 12 years and may be about to rack up another four. Yet Germany has quite a tradition of long chancellorships.

The German economy in election year

Let's suppose Bill "It's the economy, stupid!" Clinton was right, and citizens vote primarily based on the state of the economy. DW's Andreas Becker has a look at how the German economy is actually doing.

Is Merkel's huge lead in the polls accurate?

Deutschland Angela Merkel Wahlkampf in Heidelberg (picture-alliance/dpa/U. Anspach)

Voter polls in the US and UK got it wrong with Donald Trump and Brexit. So how confident are experts that German Chancellor Angela Merkel's lead in public opinion surveys will hold up?

Young activists organize against the far-right

Europawahl, männlicher Erstwähler (18) mit Stimmzettel junge Wähler Erstwähler (picture-alliance/dpa/U.Baumgarten)

Campaigns across Germany aim to prevent a political shift to the right by courting young voters. The country’s youth - when they do vote - are not shying from populist politics.

What right and left mean in the German election

Angela Merkel and the CDU have moved away from conservative positions and the SPD has disenchanted working class voters. In the German election the difference between right and left has become blurred.

What you need to know about German voters

People in voting booths in Germany (picture alliance/dpa)

More than 60 million Germans will be eligible to vote in the 2017 federal election. But how many of these voters are seniors, women, men, migrants? And how many are expected to turn out? DW looks at the electorate.

AfD stronghold left forgotten and frustrated

The right-wing AfD looks set to enter Germany's parliament for the first time in September's election. DW's Kate Brady visited the AfD stronghold of Pasewalk, which locals say has become a victim of German reunification.

Cloppenburg - the secret to the CDU's success

Bergkamen, an SPD bastion where everybody knows your name

In the liberal FDP stronghold of Strande, life's a beach

Between Berlin and a bad place: The Left party stronghold of Lichtenberg

Germany's Green party finds a haven in Heidelberg

Opinion: World needs more Europe, less Trump

Donald Trump frowns at the UN General Assembly (Getty Images/AFP/B. Smialowski)

Donald Trump jeopardizes world peace. He is aggravating North Korea and Iran and simultaneously widening the gulf between the US and Europe. But he could learn a thing or two from the Europeans, writes DW's Max Hofmann.

Borussia Dortmund have the firepower but there's room for improvement in defense

Borussia Dortmund gegen Borussia Moenchengladbach - Bundesliga 6:1 durch Julian Weigl (Getty Images/L.Baron)

As they demonstrated in their dismantling of Borussia Mönchengladbach, Dortmund's attacking threat comes from all over pitch. But, for DW's Matt Ford, their near-perfect defensive record is deceptive.

Hoffenheim put Schalke to the sword

Fußball Bundesliga Hannover 96 - 1. FC Köln (picture-alliance/dpa/P. Steffen)

Martin Harnik will try to score in his fourth consecutive game and help Hannover build on their unbeaten start. Cologne will have to try and stop them or risk extending their pointless start in the Bundesliga.

Religious conflicts on the rise in Africa

Somalia Al-Shabaab Miliz (Symbolbild) (Stringer/AFP/Getty Images)

A study by a German academic says religious conflicts in sub-Saharan Africa have been on the rise for decades. Researcher Matthias Basedau says weak African states are a major cause.