#GERMANY: Foreign Min. Criticizes Ivanka Trump Visit, Calls Admin. Role "Nepotism"

[world politics news]

German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel has criticized Ivanka Trump's role as an adviser to her father in the White House, describing it as a form of "nepotism." He also criticized as "strange" her positive reception in Berlin at a women's empowerment summit, at the invitation of conservative German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

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#GERMANY: Vice-Chancellor Makes Surprise Announcement: Won't Challenge Merkel In Election

[world politics news]

Vice Chancellor and leader of Germany's Social Democrats, Sigmar Gabriel, made the surprise announcement this week that he would not run against Chancellor Angela Merkel in September's general election. Gabriel told Die Zeit newspaper that he would recommend that former European Parliament president Martin Schulz take his place as SPD party chairman and candidate for chancellor.

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#GERMANY: Possible Merkel Rival Makes Ill-Timed Visit To Moscow, Say Critics

[world politics news]

German Vice Chancellor Sigmar Gabriel, who has struggled to escape Chancellor Angela Merkel‘s shadow in his bid to challenge her in next year‘s election, wants to build bridges between Russia and Germany. But his latest visit to Moscow has come under fire at home, since it came at the same time as a Russian attack on an aid convoy in Syria.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#GERMANY: Social Democrat Ldr Sigmar Gabriel Re-Elected, But With Less Support Amid Migrant Crisis

[world politics news]

A lower percentage of delegates reelected vice-chancellor and economics minister Sigmar Gabriel as party leader of the Social Democratic Party Satruday. The party put on a brave face as approval ratings continue to slump for the party, which is the junior coalition partner of Chancellor Angela Merkel's Christian Democrats.

#GERMANY: Vice Chancellor Publicly Warns Saudi Arabia About Terror Group Financing

[world politics news]

Vice Chancellor Sigmar Gabriel urged Saudi Arabia on Sunday to stop supporting religious radicals, amid growing concern among lawmakers about the funding of militant mosques by the world's biggest oil exporter. The unusual public criticism of the Gulf state follows a report by Germany's foreign intelligence agency suggesting Saudi foreign policy was becoming more "impulsive."