Former German foreign minister Guido Westerwelle dead at 54

Country’s first openly gay minister was one of most gifted political orators of generation

Merkel offers ‘gratitude’ to Ireland and says reforms are paying off

Chancellor sees scale of election triumph as endorsement of her euro zone strategy

Merkel praises Irish reform but ‘no change’ to strategy

Re-elected chancellor says Ireland an example of how crisis countries can turn themselves around

Merkel allies beg CDU voters for support

FDP facing election disaster on Sunday after exiting Bavarian parliament

Merkel faces electoral dilemma in final week

Bavarian voters oust her FDP coalition partners as CSU takes almost 50% of vote

Kohl takes CDU by surprise in backing coalition partner FDP

Former chancellor is critical of Greece’s admission to the euro zone

Leak points to third bailout for Greece

Merkel under pressure pre-election after reports that Greece will need further aid

Merkel election manifesto a ‘fiscal fairytale’

German chancellor’s promise of billions in new welfare spending criticised

Telecoms giant plans to abolish flat rate services

Merkel’s ailing coalition partner FDP seeks electoral revival as defender of euro

FDP warns France against creating ‘debt EU’