தினப்பொறி மார்ச் 3 - உக்ரைன்

Trump-Zelensky Meeting Implodes-WSJ

Source: Wall Street Journel

Ukraine's President Volodymr Zelenskyy's US visit-AJ Inside Story

A visit that Ukraine's President Volodymr Zelenskyy hoped would secure US support in the face of Russia's invasion, instead ended in a very public row. Kyiv hoped that would keep US assistance coming, despite not containing any guarantees of security against Russian aggression. Instead, President Zelenskyy got a dressing down from Trump and his Vice President JD Vance, who accused the wartime leader of showing disrespect and ingratitude. Now Trump is threatening to pull support from Ukraine. What does this mean for the war in Ukraine?

Presenter: James Bays

Guests:

Michael Bociurkiw, global affairs analyst and senior fellow at Atlantic Council's Eurasia Center.

Scott Lucas, Professor of US and International Politics, Clinton Institute, University College Dublin.

Glenn Diesen, professor of International Relations at the University of South-East Norway and Associate Editor of Russia in Global Affairs.🔺

Minister Herath’s Full Speech: At the 58th Regular Session of the UNHRC in Geneva.

 The Government says it is firmly and sincerely committed to working towards a unified Sri Lanka that respects and celebrates the diversity of its people with no division or discrimination based on race, religion, class and caste. 

“We will not leave room for a resurgence of divisive racism or religious extremism in our country,” Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath said on Tuesday (25). 

He also said '' Sri Lanka aims to make domestic mechanisms credible within constitutional framework''.

Minister Herath made these comments while delivered a statement at the High-Level Segment of the 58th Regular Session of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in Geneva February 25, 2025 . 

Video: Speech in English

Minister Herath’s Full Speech:

“Mr. President, I wish to congratulate you on your election as the President of this Council.

At the Presidential and Parliamentary elections held a few months ago, the people of Sri Lanka took a progressive decision to elect a new government with a strong mandate to direct the country towards economic, social and political transformation. The results of these elections held in November 2024 bears special significance on several fronts. It reflected a collective and unified voice from people of all regions of the country – North, South, East, West – and of all ethnicities and religions, in support of change and positive transformation. The current Parliament which was formed after the election is one of the most inclusive in our history, with a record number of women, representatives of different communities including two women from the Malayaga community and a visually impaired person being part of the Legislature of the country. This inclusivity represents Sri Lanka’s new path focused on upholding the rights of all its people irrespective of differences based on gender, ethnicity or other grounds. 

I would like to quote from the speech delivered by our President, Anura Kumara Dissanayake, at the inauguration of the first session of the Tenth Parliament: “Elections create a contract between the people and us. This bond is formed when we present our policy statements and ideas, outlining how the country’s future should be shaped. People who place their trust in these ideas cast their votes for us. With their votes, the people have fulfilled their part in this relationship by granting us the mandate to govern. Now, it is our turn to fulfil our part by serving the people.”

In 2022, Sri Lanka went through its deepest and most complex social, economic and political crisis since independence. As you know, the impact of the economic crisis gave rise to a humanitarian situation affecting all segments of the population, especially the poorest and the most vulnerable segments of the society. The Government led by President Anura Kumara Disanayake has emerged successful in stabilizing the economy, and we are currently in the process of laying the foundation toward economic transformation and greater economic democratization through fair distribution of opportunities. 

We are acutely aware of the continuing impact of the economic challenges on our people, particularly the most vulnerable, and the government continues to take decisive steps to advance the economic and social rights of the people. In the National Budget for 2025 presented to the Parliament last week, we have committed to take series of measures to extend much needed relief and empowerment to the people including increased allocation for social welfare and security. Significantly, the budget proposals have also made historic allocations for health and education and provide for a series of empowerment measures to vulnerable groups such as women, children including orphaned, disabled or autistic children, estate sector population, students, persons with disabilities and people living in conflict affected or under-developed areas of the country. 

Special attention has been paid to improving the socio-economic conditions and address critical needs such as resettlement, housing, compensation and infrastructure development in the conflict-affected Northern and Eastern Provinces. 

The Government has been actively working to develop infrastructure, support livelihoods and promote industries in the Northern and Eastern Provinces, aiming to enhance connectivity and support regional development. 

With the launch of the “Clean Sri Lanka” project by H.E. the President on 01 January 2025, the Government has taken steps to introduce a new political culture and commitment to moral and ethical governance. The ‘Clean Sri Lanka’ programme is a holistic undertaking aimed at nation-wide efforts of environmental, social, and governance initiatives to bring about change, integration, and collaboration, in environment, social and governance structures. 

In line with the mandate given by the people, the Government will prioritize integrity and addressing issues of mismanagement and corruption that were at the root of the economic collapse, in taking our country towards sustainable development. Through digital transformation of government structures at all levels, we hope to ensure that inefficiency and corruption will be minimized. 

The Government led by President Anura Kumara Disanayaka is firmly and sincerely committed to working towards a unified Sri Lanka that respects and celebrates the diversity of its people with no division or discrimination based on race, religion, class and caste. We will not leave room for a resurgence of divisive racism or religious extremism in our country. The fundamental and longstanding principles of democracy and freedom enshrined in our Constitution will be fully respected and safeguarded while protecting the human rights of all citizens. Every citizen should feel free to practice their religion, speak their language, and live according to their cultural values without fear or discrimination. No one should feel that their beliefs, culture, or political affiliations will make them targets of undue pressure or prejudice. Administrative, political and electoral processes will be activated towards this end.

The Government has pledged to take tangible steps in the interest of further advancing national unity and reconciliation. The President has proposed to declare a Sri Lanka Day, in line with our vision for a reconciled Sri Lanka and commitment to bridging gaps between communities. We will ensure that the domestic mechanisms and processes established to address challenges emanating from the conflict will continue their work in an independent and credible manner within the Constitutional framework. Domestic institutions such as the Office on Missing Persons (OMP), Office for Reparations, and Office for National Unity and Reconciliation (ONUR) will be strengthened. 

The contours of a truth and reconciliation framework, will be further discussed with the broadest possible cross section of stakeholders, before operationalization to ensure a process that has the trust of all Sri Lankans. Our aim is to make the domestic mechanisms credible and sound within the constitutional framework. This will include strengthening the work towards a truth and reconciliation commission empowered to investigate acts of violence caused by racism and religious extremism that give rise to tensions within Sri Lankan society.  

Video: Speech in Sinhala

A number of confidence building measures have also been taken in the last few months towards reconciliation. In November 2024, a number of roads in the Northern Province including the Palali- Achchuveli main road were opened for public use after several decades. The President, during his visit to the North in January this year, made an open invitation to Tamil-speaking youth to be part of Sri Lanka’s police service. The 2025 budget includes significant allocations to upgrade the libraries throughout the country, including the historical Jaffna library which is a symbol of education and enlightenment for the Tamil community. 

The Government is fully cognizant of the responsibility that accompanies the people’s mandate, including the people of the Northern and Eastern provinces, to fulfill their aspirations for a just, fair and prosperous society for all our citizens. As we move forward on our path towards national unity and reconciliation and inclusive development, the continued encouragement and support of the international community will be important.  

Sri Lanka is an active member of the United Nations since 1955. We are a State Party to all the 09 core UN human rights instruments and engage with Treaty Bodies and regular mechanisms of this Council on a regular basis. In the past few years, we have received over 10 Special Procedures and engaged productively with Treaty Bodies, most recently with the CEDAW Committee, ICCPR and the Universal Periodic Review process. We are committed to genuine dialogue and cooperation in human rights through continuous and constructive engagement.     

Conflict, inequality, and extreme climatic conditions are driving millions into poverty daily, while countless men, women, and children continue to suffer or perish in wars across the globe. Addressing these critical challenges is essential to protect human rights and safeguard our planet for future generations.      

Sri Lanka stands ready to support the Human Rights Council in addressing these pressing global challenges in a balanced and holistic manner in line with its founding principles of universality, impartiality, objectivity and non-selectivity. We believe that States must be encouraged and empowered to address their challenges through robust national human rights frameworks, supplemented by assistance upon request. .

As a nation on the trajectory towards people-led and people-centric national transformation and as a responsible member of the international community, Sri Lanka will continue to work in a constructive spirit of dialogue and cooperation with the members of the United Nations including this Council within our national legal framework. 

Thank you.”

ஐ.நா காவடி 2025: புதிய ஈழப் புரட்சியாளர்கள் அறிக்கை.

ஏகாதிபத்திய தாச ஐ.நா.பாதையை நிராகரிப்போம்!

ஜனநாயகத் திட்டத்தில் ஈழப்புரட்சியை முன்னெடுப்போம்!!

ஒடுக்கும் சிங்கள தேசத்தின் ஆளும் கும்பல்கள் 30 ஆண்டுகளாக தொடுத்துவந்த ஈழப்போரை, ஐ.நா வில் பிரதிநிதித்துவம் செய்யும் அனைத்து நாடுகளின் ஆதரவோடும், தலைமை நாடுகளின் இராணுவ உதவியோடும், ஐ.நா வின் ராஜதந்திர பக்கபலத்தோடும் முள்ளிவாய்க்கால்ப் பிரளயம் மூலம் மே 18 2009 இல், நிறுத்தியது.

எந்த ஏகாதிபத்திய, இந்திய விரிவாதிக்க, சீனத் தலையீட்டு, அமெரிக்க உலக மறு பங்கீட்டு நலன்களுக்காக இத் தேசியப் படுகொலைக்கு ஐ.நா.துணை போனதோ-குருதி உறையுமுன்னமே, பிணம் தின்ற நாய்களின் கடைவாயில் நிணம் ஒட்டிக்கொண்டிருந்த போதே அந்த மயானத்தைப் பார்வையிட்ட ஐ.நா.தலைவர் பான்கி மூன் அங்கு கொல்லப்பட்டவர்கள் ஆக பத்தாயிரம் பேரே என அறிக்கையிட்டு அதை அதிகார பூர்வ சர்வதேச சமூக வெளியீடாக மாற்றினாரோ, அவரும் அந்த சபையும்- அதே கூட்டு நலன்களின் பாற்பட்டு அத் தேசியப் படுகொலைக்கு -`இறுதிப் போரில் இடம்பெற்ற மனித உரிமை மீறல்கள்`- என (பெயர் சூட்டின) வரையறை செய்தன.

அது முதல், இந்த வரையறை உலக நியமம் ஆகி, ஊடகப் பிசாசுகளால் பரப்பப்படுவதான உண்மை  என்றாகிவிட்டது!

இவ்வாறே முள்ளிவாய்க்காலைத் தொடர்ந்து ஈழ தேசிய விடுதலைப் புரட்சி இயக்கத்துக்கு வடிகால் அமைத்து, முள்ளிவாய்க்கால்ப் புரட்சிக்கனலை நீர்த்துப் போகச் செய்து, நிர்மூலமாக்குவதற்கான உபாயமாகவும் இது பயன்படுத்தப்பட்டு வருகின்றது.

தேசியம் புறந்தள்ளப்பட்டு `மனிதம்` உயர்த்திப் பிடிக்கப்படுவது உலகளாவிய போக்காக மாறிவிட்டது.

அரசியல் அதிகாரம் சார்ந்த அனைத்து வர்க்கப் போராட்டங்களும் மனித உரிமைப் பிரச்சனைகளாக மகுடம் தரித்துக் கொண்டுள்ளன.புரட்சி வெறும் சீர் திருத்தமாக மாற்றப்பட்டுள்ளது.இது ஏகாதிபத்திய கோட்பாடும், திட்டமும் ஆகும்.இதைச் செயலாக்கும் வாகனங்களாகவே ஐ.நா.வின் இலட்சோபம் NGO படைகள் இயங்குகின்றன. 

இதனடிப்படையில் இந்த மனித உரிமைத் திருவிழாவுக்கு அரோகராப் போட, தேசியப் புரட்சியின் எதிரிகள், எகாதிபத்திய தாசர்கள் ஓரணி சேர்ந்தது தர்க்க ரீதியானதே.

அது முதல், 2025-2009 = 16 ஆண்டுகள்,வருடா வருடம் ஐ.நா சபைக்கு மனித உரிமை விடாய் எடுக்கும்போது, உள்ளக வெளியக இனத்துவக் கும்பல்கள் காவடி எடுத்துவருகின்றன.

மெழுகு வர்த்திப் போராட்டங்கள் நடத்துகின்றன. சந்து பொந்துகளில் உந்துருளி ஓடுகின்றன!

விசித்திரமாக இந்த வருடமும்; எந்த நியமும் இன்றி எல்லா நியமங்களையும் மீறி இஸ்ரேல் நடத்திக்கொண்டிக்கும் பாலஸ்தீன தேசிய நிர்மூலத்துக்கு எதிரான தீர்மானங்களை, ஒருவர் மாறி ஒருவர் எதிர்த்து வாக்களித்து முறியடித்துக் கொண்டு, மறுபுறம் உக்ரைன் போர் நிறுத்தத்துக்கு அனைவரும் ஏகமனதாக வாக்களித்து, ஐ.நா.வின் ஏகாதிபத்திய சாரத்தை உலக உழைக்கும் மக்களுக்கு அம்பலமாக்கி ஐ.நா நிர்வாணமாக நின்ற - இந்த வருடமும் வெட்கம் மானம் சூடு சொரணை இன்றி  இந்த மனித உரிமைத் திருவிழா அரங்கேறி வருகின்றது.

காணாமல் ஆக்கப்பட்டோரைக் கண்டடைய முன்னின்று போராடும் ஈழத் தாய்மார்களின் கூட்டிற்குள் புகுந்து அவர்களது கைகளில் அமெரிக்க,ஐரோப்பியன் யூனியன் கொடிகளைத் திணித்த கொழும்புத் தரகன் கஜேந்திர குமார் பொன்னம்பலம் இன்னும்-பாலஸ்தீன படுகொலைக்குப் பின்னும் அந்தக் கொடிகளைத் திரும்பப் பெறவில்லை.

காணாமல் ஆக்கப்பட்டோரைக் கண்டடையும் போராட்டம் ஈழ தேசத்தின் ஆன்மாவை உலுக்கும் தேசியப் பிரச்சனை பற்றியதாகும். யாரை எதிர்த்து யாரை அணி சேர்த்து இப்போராட்டத்தை நடத்தவேண்டும் என்கிற ஜீவாதாரமான பிரச்சனையில் சந்தர்ப்பவாத பொன்னன் கட்சியின் தவறான வழி காட்டுதல்தான் மூவாயிரம் நாட்களாகியும் அந்தப் போராட்டம் ஒரு வெகு ஜன இயக்கமாக மாறாததற்கு காரணம் ஆகும். இவ்வாறு தான் இச் சைக்கிள் கட்சி மாணவர்களையும் திசை திருப்பி வருகின்றது.

வழக்கம் போல இந்த ஆண்டும் இத்திருவிழாவின் விவாதப் பொருள் உள்ளகமா? வெளியகமா? என்பது தான்!

ஒரு வேறுபாடு என்னவென்றால் இந்தத் தடவை ஒடுக்கும் போர்க்குற்ற சிங்கள தேசத்தின் ஆட்சியாளர்கள் மாறியிருக்கின்றார்கள்.

நேரடியாக அரசியல் அதிகாரத்தைக் கையில் ஏந்தி யுத்தத்தை நடத்தியவர்கள் அல்லாமல், அவர்களுக்கு பக்க பலமாக, மறைமுகமாக, தத்துவார்த்த ரீதியாக போரை ஆதரித்து பிரச்சாரம் செய்து, படைக்கு ஆட் சேர்த்து, பதுங்கு குழிகள் வெட்டிய  துணைக் குற்றவாளிகளான ஜே.வி.கும்பல் அதிகாரத்தைக் கைப்பற்றி இருக்கின்றது.ஆட்சி அமைத்திருக்கின்றது.

இன்று (25) ஜெனீவாவில் நடைபெற்ற ஐக்கிய நாடுகள் மனித உரிமைகள் பேரவையின் 58வது அமர்வில் உரையாற்றிய இலங்கை வௌிவிவகார அமைச்சர் விஜித ஹேரத்: 

``எமது குறிக்கோள் காணாமல் போனோர் அலுவலகம், இழப்பீட்டு அலுவலகம், தேசிய ஒற்றுமை மற்றும் நல்லிணக்கத்திற்கான அலுவலகம் போன்ற உள்நாட்டு நிறுவனங்களை வலுப்படுத்துவதன் மூலம், அரசியலமைப்பு சட்ட வரம்புக்குள், உள்நாட்டு பொறிமுறைகளை நம்பகமான மற்றும் வலுவான நிலைக்கு கொண்டுவருவதாகும்". எனக் கூறியுள்ளார்.

இந்த அலுவல் அகங்கள் அனைத்தும் இவை ஆரம்பிக்கப்பட்ட ராஜபக்ச ஆட்சிக்காலத்திலேயே பாதிக்கப்பட்ட மக்களால் முற்று முழுதாக நிராகரிக்கப்பட்டவை. மேலும் இந்த 16 ஆண்டுகளில் அவை எதையும் சாதிக்கவில்லை. இவை அனைத்தும் சிங்களத்தின் (தரகுமுதலாளிய, பெருந் தேசியவாத,பெளத்த மதவாத அரசின்) அழுக்கு முகங்களே ஆகும். இதை வலுப்படுத்துவது அநீதியை வலுப்படுத்தவே உதவும்.

விஜித ஹேரத் ``அரசியலமைப்பு சட்ட வரம்பு'` பற்றிப் பேசுகின்றார்.

இலங்கையின் முதல் ஆங்கிலேய காலனித்துவ சோல்பரி அரசியல்யாப்பு பொன்னம்பல `சேர்-Sir' களும், சேன-நாயக்கர்களும் ஏற்றுக் கொண்ட ஒப்பந்தம் ஆகும்.

1972, 1978 யாப்புகள் ஈழ தேசத்தின் அங்கீகாரம் பெற்றவையல்ல. எல்லாவற்றுக்கும் மேலாக 1978 யாப்பின் 6வது திருத்தம் ஈழ தேசத்தின் சுய நிர்ணய உரிமையை மறுக்கின்றது. பிரிந்து செல்லும் உரிமையை தடை செய்து சட்டவிரோதமாக்கியுள்ளது.

இதன் விளைவாகவே `ஈழ அரசியல்`  வன்முறை வடிவத்தை எடுத்தது. உள் நாட்டு யுத்தமாக வளர்ந்தது.

இந்த யுத்தத்தில் இழைக்கப்பட்ட குற்றங்களுக்கு, இதே அரசியலமைப்பு எப்படி நீதி வழங்கும்?

ஆக இறுதியாக, அதிகார பீடத்தில் அமர்ந்ததும் ஜே.வி.கும்பல் காற்றில் பறக்கவிட்ட தேர்தல் வாக்குறுதிகளின் பட்டியலில் ` போர்க்குற்ற நீதி` ப்பிரச்சனையும் இணைந்துவிட்டது.

இந்நிலையில் ஈழதேசிய விடுதலைப் புரட்சிக் கனலைத்  தணியவைக்கும், ஏகாதிபத்திய, இந்திய விரிவாதிக்க, சீனத் தலையீட்டு, அமெரிக்க உலக மறு பங்கீட்டு நலன்களை, சக்திகளை எதிர்த்து, தேசிய ஜனநாயகத் திட்டத்தில் ஈழ விடுதலைப் புரட்சித் தீயை அணையவிடாது பிரகாசிக்கச் செய்வதே எமது புரட்சிகர அரசியல் கடமையாகும்.

அதற்காக அணிதிரளுமாறு இளைய தலைமுறையினருக்கு அறைகூவல் விடுக்கின்றோம்.

இலங்கை எம் தந்தையர் நாடு! ஈழதேசம் எம் தாய் வீடு!!

இறுதி வெற்றி ஈழ மக்களுக்கே!

புதிய ஈழப் புரட்சியாளர்கள்.

ஈழம்                                                                         26-02-2025

தொடர்புக்கு: eelamnewsbulletin @gmail.com

Sri Lanka foreign debt service US$2.4bn in 2025, US$2.1bn in 2026

Sri Lanka foreign debt service US$2.4bn in 2025, US$2.1bn in 2026

Monday February 24, 2025 ECONOMYNEXT

Sri Lanka’s debt service in 2025 is estimated at 2,454 million dollars made up of 1,369 million dollars in capital repayments and 1,085 million dollars in interest, Deputy Minister of Economic Development Anil Jayantha has said.

In 2026, principal payments are 1,191 million dollars and interest 931 million dollars.

In 2027, principal are 1,196 million dollars and interest 893 million dollars.

In 2028, principal are 2,133 million dollars and interest 974 million dollars.

Under the International Monetary Fund program, projections were made in a June 2024 IMF report, of 7,184 million dollars for 2025 and going up to 15,105 million dollars, Minister Jayantha said in parliament, answering a question by opposition legislator Ravi Karunanayake.

The projections would be revised periodically, he said.

The actual reserve collections under the IMF program were contained in a net international reserve target, as a quantitative performance criteria, all of which have so far been met, Minister Jayantha said.

Net international reserves are gross reserves less reserve-related liabilities.

In Sri Lanka, the central bank borrowed dollars heavily from various sources including the International Monetary Fund, India and local banks to mistarget a policy rate through inflationary open market operations.

Over the past two years the central bank had settled its borrowings from Bangladesh and some of the loans from the Reserve Bank of India and the IMF.

There have been calls for parliament to ban the ability of the central bank to borrow foreign exchange through swaps and lose them by targeting a policy rate.

Related Central bank swaps symptomatic of Sri Lanka’s IMF return tickets and default

Under fixed policy rate, a central bank offsets forex reserve sales by printing money into banks, preventing rates from going up via inflationary open market operations. The new injections prevent reserve money, bank rupee reserves and credit from going down in step with dollar outflows.

At the height of the crisis in 2024, the central bank’s net reserves dipped to a negative 4.6 billion US dollars.

They returned to positive territory a few months ago, amid deflationary open market operations.

Analysts had warned that under a single policy rate, which tends to involve an abundant reserve regime (excess liquidity generated from domestic assets) the central bank could trigger forex shortages and more crises as mid-corridor rate targeting did from 2015.🔺

Charting the rise of Germany’s far-right AfD party

 EXPLAINER

Charting the rise of Germany’s far-right AfD party

The AfD doubles its share of the vote from 10.4 percent in 2021 to 20.8 percent, becoming Germany’s second largest political party

By Hanna Duggal 24 Feb 2025 AJ

In a historic shift in Germany’s political landscape, the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) has surged to become the second largest party in the Bundestag, winning 20.8 percent of the vote in federal elections.

The Christian Democratic Union (CDU) was the biggest vote-getter on Sunday, winning 28.6 percent alongside its sister party, the Christian Social Union. The CDU has ruled out forming a coalition with the AfD, which presents a challenge in creating a stable government.

The AfD has articulated several key policies, which have proved popular with many German voters. They include:

• Immigration controls, including the rejection of asylum applications and “remigration” initiatives that would deport foreign nationals
• Economic overhauls, such as abandoning the euro and reintroducing the German mark
• Foreign policy changes, such as leaving the NATO alliance
• Reversing energy transitions, such as dismantling existing wind turbines and returning to nuclear energy

Who is the AfD leader Alice Weidel?

Alice Weidel, a former finance professional with a doctorate in economics, joined the AfD in 2013 and quickly rose to leadership posts. Initially a eurosceptic party, the AfD shifted towards nationalism and strict immigration policies with Weidel at the forefront.

Weidel capitalised on voter frustration, particularly in the former East Germany, by opposing immigration, green energy policies and globalisation. Using social media and high-profile interviews, including with tech billionaire Elon Musk, to expand her influence, Weidel’s “remigration” and nationalist policies have garnered her and the AfD attention.

AfD co-leader and chancellor candidate Alice Weidel waves a German flag
at the AfD party headquarters in Berlin, Germany, on February 23, 2025,
after the German election results showed her party doubling its share of the votes
[Michael Probst/AP Photo]

How has the AfD performed in the past?

The party’s electoral gains mirror rising dissatisfaction among voters on migration, the economy and mainstream parties.

Initially formed as a eurosceptic party, the AfD secured 4.7 percent of the votes in its first federal elections in 2013, falling below the 5 percent bar required to enter the Bundestag.

In the 2017 federal elections, the party gained 12.6 percent of votes and entered the Bundestag with 94 seats. It was the third largest party in the German parliament, its popularity driven by then-Chancellor Angela Merkel’s 2015 refugee policy, which allowed more than a million asylum seekers into Germany.

While still performing strongly in eastern Germany, the AfD’s vote share dropped in the 2021 elections to 10.3 percent, making it the fifth largest party in the Bundestag. The party struggled to maintain its anti-immigration rhetoric with concern at the time focused more on the handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.

In Sunday’s elections, the AfD doubled its vote share from 2021 as the election campaign focused on immigration and the economy.

Where did the AfD perform best?

In Sunday’s elections, the AfD won votes in almost every single German constituency.

Historically, the AfD performs well among voters in eastern Germany due to post-reunification disparities that have emerged as the east has lagged behind western Germany in economic development and employment opportunities.

The AfD has also done well off the back of its antiestablishment rhetoric with mainstream political parties less deeply rooted in eastern Germany due to its communist past.

In a couple of western German constituencies, the AfD won but was only marginally ahead of the second most popular parties in those areas.

That said, the Left party has also found success in eastern Germany despite declining support in recent years. The Left evolved from the Socialist Unity Party, which ruled East Germany until reunification in 1990 and has stronger ties to older voters there.

Will the AfD be part of Germany’s coalition?

Mainstream parties have ruled out forming a coalition with the AfD because of its nationalist policies and far-right tendencies. As such, Germany’s coalition options are now limited essentially to one, given the voting results.

A grand coalition including the CDU, the CSU and the Social Democratic Party (SPD) is the most likely option with CDU leader Friedrich Merz as chancellor.

______________________

NOW: Trump and Macron hold joint news conference

 

video

From CNN staff

US President Donald Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron are holding a joint news conference Monday after their bilateral meeting earlier this afternoon in the Oval Office.

The two leaders also participated in a call with G7 summit leaders.

Macron’s visit to the White House today comes on the third year anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. European leaders are rushing to try to reclaim a central role for themselves and for Ukraine after they were cut out of US-Russia talks on ending the war.🔺

Germany's AfD, Left win enough seats to block changes to debt brake

By Maria Martinez and Christian Kraemer FebruSummary

Summary

• Far-right, far-left parties win third of seats in election
• Means they can try to block increased defence spending
• Investors cheer conservatives' win, tough coalition talks ahead
• Business leaders urge swift formation of new coalition

BERLIN, Feb 24 (Reuters) - The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) and the Left Party jointly secured one third of seats in the new parliament, enough to block a loosening of Germany's debt brake - a mechanism some investors and political parties say stymies economic growth.

The euro and German stocks rallied as investors welcomed the strong likelihood of a conservative-led coalition following Sunday's election, while German business leaders called for the swift formation of a new government, saying Europe's largest economy could not afford to waste any time as companies suffer from high costs, red tape and rising foreign competition.

Markets are now focused on the chances of reforming or scrapping the debt brake. This mechanism limits budget deficits to 0.35% of gross domestic product, though that excludes top-ups of the special fund for defence or creation of any new fund.

However, both the AfD and the Left oppose military aid to Ukraine, and with their new-found strength in the Bundestag lower house they could veto increased defence contributions.

Leaders of the Left Party said on Monday they supported a reform of Germany's debt brake but on condition that this was not used to hike defence spending.

"We have to invest in social infrastructure, and if that doesn't happen, then we won't vote for it either," said party co-chief Ines Schwerdtner. "We will not vote for rearmament."

Germany's outgoing parliament still has the majority needed to reform the debt brake before a new coalition is formed but such a move by the current assembly is "unrealistic", Finance Minister Joerg Kukies told Reuters in an interview on Monday.

"First of all, there's far too little time, and secondly, it would also be a questionable political signal if constitutional amendments were now made with an old majority," Kukies said.

German conservatives under likely next chancellor Friedrich Merz have vowed to move quickly to try to form a coalition after winning the most votes in Sunday's national election.

The most likely outcome is a coalition of Merz's conservative bloc and the Social Democrats (SPD), who came in third, after the AfD surged to a historic second place.

Germany's Ifo economic institute stressed the urgency of forming a new government.

"The German economy is in waiting," said its president Clemens Fuest, after Ifo's business climate index came in at 85.2 for February, flat on the previous month.

INFURIATING TRUMP?

Holger Schmieding, chief economist at Berenberg, said the new coalition may struggle to find the fiscal space to raise spending on defence while also easing the tax burden for workers and firms.

"A failure to ramp up military spending could get Germany into deep trouble with its NATO partners," Schmieding said. "By infuriating U.S. President Donald Trump, it could also add to the risk of a U.S.-EU trade war."

Economists said enlisting the cooperation of the Left would prove very difficult for Merz.

"The Left would like to ditch the debt brake. However, its agenda - soak the rich, spend more on welfare and less on defence- is the very opposite of the Merz agenda," said Carsten Brzeski, global head of macro at ING.

In order to increase defence spending from the current 2% of GDP to 4%, for example, the federal government would have to cut non-defence spending by a quarter if this were not to be financed by additional debt, said Joerg Kraemer, chief economist at Commerzbank.

Kraemer said a Merz-led government might find that its only politically feasible option is to suspend the debt brake by invoking an "extraordinary emergency situation", which is possible with a simple parliamentary majority.🔺

German election victor Merz plans pivot from US as coalition talks loom

Bar chart showing the results of Germany's federal election

By Sarah Marsh and Matthias Williams February 24, 2025

Summary

• Opposition conservatives win German election
• Conservative chief Friedrich Merz hits out at US
• AfD scores historic result but far-right party to be shunned
• Coalition talks could last months, leaving vacuum at heart of EU
• Trump: Germany got tired of the no common sense agenda

BERLIN, Feb 23 (Reuters) - Friedrich Merz, set to become Germany's next chancellor after his opposition conservatives won the national election on Sunday, vowed to help give Europe "real independence" from the U.S. as he prepared to cobble together a government.

Merz, 69, faces complex and lengthy coalition negotiations after the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) surged to a historic second place in a fractured vote after the collapse of Chancellor Olaf Scholz's unloved three-way alliance.

Mainstream parties rule out working with the AfD which enjoyed the endorsement of prominent U.S. figures including Elon Musk, the tech billionaire and ally of President Donald Trump.

Merz, who has no previous experience in office, is set to become chancellor with Europe's largest economy ailing, its society split over migration and its security caught between a confrontational U.S. and an assertive Russia and China.

Merz took aim at the U.S. in blunt remarks after his victory, criticising the "ultimately outrageous" comments flowing from Washington during the campaign, comparing them to hostile interventions from Russia.

"So we are under such massive pressure from two sides that my absolute priority now is to achieve unity in Europe. It is possible to create unity in Europe," he told a roundtable with other leaders.

Merz's broadside against the U.S. came despite President Donald Trump welcoming the election outcome.

"Much like the USA, the people of Germany got tired of the no common sense agenda, especially on energy and immigration, that has prevailed for so many years," Trump wrote on Truth Social.

Hitherto seen as an atlanticist, Merz said Trump had shown his administration to be "largely indifferent to the fate of Europe".

Merz's "absolute priority will be to strengthen Europe as quickly as possible so that we can achieve real independence from the USA step by step," he added.

He even ventured to ask whether the next summit of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, which has underpinned Europe's security for decades, would still see "NATO in its current form".

Following a campaign roiled by violent attacks for which people of migrant background were arrested, the conservative CDU/CSU bloc won 28.5% of the vote, followed by the AfD with 20.5%, said a projection published late on Sunday by ZDF broadcaster.

The AfD, which looks set to double its score from the previous vote, saw Sunday's result as only a beginning.

"Our hand remains outstretched to form a government," leader Alice Weidel told supporters, adding "next time we'll come first."

MERZ'S JUGGLING ACT

Merz is heading into coalition talks without a strong negotiating hand. While his CDU/CSU emerged as the largest bloc, it scored its second worst post-war result.

It remains uncertain whether Merz will need one or two partners to form a majority, with the fate of smaller parties unclear in a way that could jumble parliamentary arithmetic.

Another three-way coalition would likely be much more unwieldy, hampering Germany's ability to show clear leadership.

Chancellor Scholz's Social Democrats (SPD) tumbled to their worst result since World War Two, with 16.5% of the vote share, and Scholz conceding a "bitter" result, according to the ZDF projection, while the Greens were on 11.8%.

Strong support particularly from younger voters pushed the far-left Die Linke party to 8.7% of the vote.

The pro-market Free Democrats (FDP) and newcomer Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance (BSW) party hovered around the 5% threshold to enter parliament.

"A three-party coalition runs the risk of more muddling through and more stagnation unless all parties involved realise that this is the last chance to bring change and to prevent the AfD from getting stronger," said Carsten Brzeski, global head of macro at banking group ING.

"As long as the new government does not bring significant change, foreign investments will also be held back, weakening Germany's economic outlook."

Voter turnout at 83% was the highest since before reunification in 1990, according to exit polls. Male voters tended more towards the right, while female voters showed stronger support for leftist parties.

CARETAKER SCHOLZ

A brash economic liberal who has shifted the conservatives to the right, Merz is considered the antithesis of former conservative Chancellor Angela Merkel, who led Germany for 16 years.

Merz conditionally supports equipping Ukraine with longer-range Taurus missiles, a step Scholz's government shied away from, and sees Europe as firmly anchored in NATO.

Sunday's election came after the collapse last November of Scholz's coalition of his SPD, the Greens and pro-market FDP in a row over budget spending.

Lengthy coalition talks could leave Scholz in a caretaker role for months, delaying urgently needed policies to revive the German economy after two consecutive years of contraction and as companies struggle against global rivals.

A delay would also create a leadership vacuum in the heart of Europe even as it deals with a host of challenges such as Trump threatening a trade war and attempting to fast-track a ceasefire deal for Ukraine without European involvement. 🔺