Crisis in Italy, Neo-Nazi party labeled a criminal group in Greece, etc...

Berlusconi ministerial resignations spark Italy crisis

The Italian prime minister accused Mr Berlusconi of telling a "huge lie"

 

Greece crackdown: Golden Dawn leader Michaloliakos charged

 

Coalition Purgatory: Will Merkel's Party Buckle on Tax Hikes?

 

...and an update on the Euro Crisis from the Wall Street Journal

Retirees marched Wednesday in Lisbon against plans by the government for a 10% cut in pensions for public servants.

German election results

Official Results 

Preliminary Election Results from Der Spiegel

 

 

SPD Deflects talk of grand coalition 

Next Steps

 

Germany's Parties

 

From the Wall Street Journal

Merkel's Victory

 

From the BBC:  

Angela Merkel celebrates after German election win

 

 

More on German Elections

Polls indicate it will be a close call for Merkel's coalition:
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/20/world/europe/race-tightens-ahead-of-german-vote.html?_r=0


Election posters:


A primer on German electoral rules:
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-09-19/how-germany-s-election-system-works-what-to-watch-for-sept-22.html

Who's who in the German Election: http://news.yahoo.com/whos-germanys-election-062013638.html

German Elections - Will the Free Democrats survive?

As Germany enters the final week of the election campaign, Bavarian state election gives the CDU/CSU a boost, but the FDP's poor showing may foreshadow national level issues:
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/16/world/europe/strong-showing-for-merkels-conservative-allies-in-bavaria.html

The Wall St. Journal focuses on the possibility of a grand coalition: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887323527004579077163110377446.html



The Economist magazine endorses Merkel in advance of the September 22nd election: http://www.economist.com/news/leaders/21586343-german-voters-should-re-elect-angela-merkel-their-chancellorand-europes-leader-one-woman

Germany and the EU, Barroso and the Tories, Syria

Analysts find that Germany doesn't have a clear strategy for moving Europe forward through the crisis - "muddling through":
German policy on Europe lacking say some experts | euronews, world news

But Commission President Barroso finds signs of economic recovery in the latest figures:
http://www.euronews.com/2013/09/12/barroso-figures-show-start-of-economic-recovery/



Barroso had a tough exchange with the leader of the UK Conservatives in the European Parliament after his speech on the State of the European Union:
http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/07b0e41e-1acd-11e3-87da-00144feab7de.html

British Prime Minister David Cameron also had a few things to say about Barroso's comments regarding the Tories and UKIP:
http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/09/12/us-britain-europe-row-idUSBRE98B12D20130912

Syria remains at the top of the headlines as the U.S. and Russia begin talks in Geneva regarding the disposition of Syria's chemical weapons, and Vladimir Putin writes to the American public:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-24072799


http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/12/opinion/putin-plea-for-caution-from-russia-on-syria.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0

Europe and Syria, German elections

Syria is not only an issue for the U.S. - last week Prime Minister David Cameron who supports military action in Syria lost a critical vote in the UK Parliament.  This week he is criticizing MPs who voted against taking action, pointing to evidence that the Syrian government used chemical weapons against civilians:
Syria crisis: David Cameron attacks MPs who opposed intervention


Syria overshadows the G20 meetings in St. Petersburg, with Russia's President Vladimir Putin opposing intervention in Syria:
Divided G20 discusses Syria crisis in St Petersburg

German Election:

To be blunt, this has to be one of the most boring elections I have seen since I started following German elections in the 1990s. However, there have been some moments of interest, as the opposition Social Democrats (SPD) try to gain some traction as the election nears:
Germany's Merkel Taunts Opponents over Euro Crisis

However, the Economist captures the "banality" of this election:
Candidates debate and Germany's election campaign plumbs new lows