johnkampfner.bsky.social - Profile | ThreadSky | a Reddit-style client for Bluesky

Second time lucky for Friedrich Merz. Let’s hope he learns from it and leads this new coalition with both resolve and preparedness to compromise. The shakier Germany’s democratic foundations, the more important it is that this government works

submitted 9 days ago • 4 comments

What do you do when your long-time friends move onto the dark side? It’s a question for Russian journalists and activists, but also for us all johnkampfner.substack.com/p/poachers-t...

submitted 14 days ago • 0 comments

As he announces his cabinet, Merz unequivocal in his commitment to Ukraine. Hopefully not more Scholzian 'yes but'. Talks of Russia's existential threat to Germany; 'goes to the heart of our security and our values'. Let's hope he's as resolute as his words. But it's a good start

submitted 17 days ago • 1 comment

Not your usual activity on a sunny Sunday morning in Berlin: helping to remove long-standing graffiti in one of the city's wartime tunnels, one which also straddled the wall, on Dresdener Strasse

submitted 18 days ago • 1 comment

Important piece by @johnkampfner.bsky.social about how #journalists become corrupted: open.substack.com/pub/johnkamp...

submitted 20 days ago • 1 comment

A great 4 days in Delhi talking to experts about the use of tech for social and economic development, part of my new book on global solutions. Culminated in a whirlwind discussion hosted by good friend, the Australian High Commissioner Philip Green, on geo-politics in front of a daunting audience.

submitted 29 days ago • 0 comments

The brain drain from American universities to Europe: a bird’s eye view from Berlin johnkampfner.substack.com/p/the-bright...

submitted 33 days ago • 1 comment

Just arrived in India on final leg of my book journey, looking at digitisation of economy of over a billion people. But before I hit the road on that, some street art in Delhi

submitted 33 days ago • 0 comments

There couldn't be a worse time to form a new government, but that's the test facing Merz. My latest comment @theguardian.com www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

submitted 35 days ago • 1 comment

Keir Starmer’s chumminess towards Trump has protected the UK from the worst of his tariff madness. But it also risks a rift with the EU, writes @johnkampfner.bsky.social

submitted 37 days ago • 5 comments

Thanks to fellow fellows and staff @wiko-berlin.bsky.social, plus my invited guests, for wonderful engagement at my colloquium. There was no more prescient moment than 'Liberation Day' to interrogate the themes in my book, or survival guide, identifying best practice around the world

submitted 43 days ago • 0 comments

What worries me about this verdict is that it will embolden authoritarians to use courts to ban opponents from standing (as Erdogan is doing, as Trump will probably do when needed). They don't differentiate between independent and non-independent judiciary. They use 'what-aboutism'

submitted 45 days ago • 8 comments

Frankfurt. On my way to central train station, a delightful encounter

submitted 49 days ago • 1 comment

As the Trump-Putin threat grows ever graver, the new Germany is stepping up. Or as the @spiegel.de headline puts it: Germany is back. (The rest is in German) www.spiegel.de/politik/deut...

submitted 53 days ago • 1 comment

Germany's Upper House, the Bundesrat, has given final approval for huge constitutional changes to come into law, allowing for a massive injection of cash for military spending, infastructure and climate protection. A great day. Germany is back www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

submitted 55 days ago • 2 comments

Germany passes historic change to constitution, voting in huge injection of funding for defence and infrastructure. A great decision for the country, for Europe and for those still trying to defend liberal democracy

submitted 58 days ago • 1 comment

Germany passes historic change to constitution, voting in huge injection of funding for defence and infrastructure. A great decision for the country, for Europe and for those still trying to defend liberal democracy

submitted 58 days ago • 1 comment

'What differentiates our country from others is that parties of the democratic centre can find solutions and not to leave the ground for populist extremists to blossom'. SPD's Lars Klingbeil, in crucial Bundestag vote, captures the essence of good German coalition building

submitted 58 days ago • 1 comment

Believing the two countries to be joined at the hip, the Trumpians assume the Brits will eventually follow. They will induce it. They will require it. How will Starmer resolve it as he seeks a way out of the Ukraine/Europe morass? johnkampfner.substack.com

submitted 62 days ago • 0 comments

Huge moment for Germany - and Europe www.politico.eu/article/germ...

submitted 62 days ago • 1 comment

The Starmer way with Trump. Is it working? @foreignpolicy.com foreignpolicy.com/2025/03/10/b...

submitted 66 days ago • 0 comments

APPLY NOW for the 65th Young Königswinter Conference, 29 Oct-2 Nov 2025 @ Europäische Akademie Berlin, co-chaired by Birgit Buhard & John Kampfner (@johnkampfner.bsky.social). The main question of this year is: “With the old world order in tatters, how do we transform our societies for the better?”

submitted 70 days ago • 2 comments

I'm enjoying watching all those who proclaimed (not you @jeremycliffe.bsky.social) that Germany was bust, that it couldn't respond quickly to world events, that its economic model was over

submitted 71 days ago • 0 comments

A U-turn but a vital one. Merz is now going big on defence spending and on infrastructure investment - dispensing with his own (and many Germans') obsessive distrust of borrowing. A whopping €500 billion to get Germany going again and to help defend Europe. Impressive, but not before time...

submitted 71 days ago • 0 comments

Since winning the election, Merz has used every opportunity to warn of the dangers of the Trumpian new world order. He hasnt sought to provide reassurance, something that Germans tend to crave from their politicians. My latest newsletter: johnkampfner.substack.com/p/hard-times...

submitted 76 days ago • 1 comment

Since winning the election, Merz has used every opportunity to warn of the dangers of the Trumpian new world order. He hasnt sought to provide reassurance, something that Germans tend to crave from their politicians. My latest newsletter: johnkampfner.substack.com/p/hard-times...

submitted 76 days ago • 1 comment

Hard times, hard leader. Might Merz understand the Trump threat better than most? Uncomfortable reading www.theguardian.com/world/commen...

submitted 77 days ago • 1 comment

While I was Moscow Corr @telegraphnews.bsky.social I spent the weekend in 1994 with Mikhail Kalashnikov, he of AK-47, while hunting in the Urals. It's all the more salutary given what's going on now. They've just republished it in their Greatest Interviews series www.telegraph.co.uk/gift/267a115...

submitted 79 days ago • 0 comments

Merz's plans. Nice to write for @timemagazine.bsky.social time.com/7261021/germ...

submitted 80 days ago • 0 comments

First of three analyses I've done since the first results of the German elections. This @theneweuropean.bsky.social looks at how it has been for our minds to adapt to the 'normality' of the AfD becoming a major force www.theneweuropean.co.uk/john-kampfne...

submitted 80 days ago • 0 comments

Merz was a real transatlanticist, on the very pro-American end of the German political spectrum

submitted 80 days ago • 79 comments

Merz must form a new coalition within a few weeks, and the other parties seeking to resist Trump-Putin must cast aside their differences and make it work. Interview @jamesmates.bsky.social for the 10pm @itvnews.bsky.social bulletin as huge day for Germany continues

submitted 81 days ago • 0 comments

'The world is not waiting for us', says Chancellor-elect Friedrich Merz, calling for coalition talks to be concluded quickly. Given the existential Putin-Trump threat, and the massive turnout today, he's going to have tailwind to sort a new govt asap

submitted 81 days ago • 0 comments

Conclusions so far: Merz Chancellor; either 2-party coalition with (weak) SPD (if liberals fail to get in to parl), or 3-party either with Greens or FDP. Either way, it's a vote for change and for strong leadership. Rise of Left Party also sign of impassioned politics. Huge turnout = no apathy here

submitted 81 days ago • 1 comment

Amazing turnout German elections 84%. Highest since reunification

submitted 81 days ago • 2 comments

German election exit poll: CDU/CSU 29% (respectable, just about), AfD 19.5% (long-term worrying but no late shock), SPD 16% (historic low); Greens 13.5% (just below last time); Left 8.5% (huge last-minute spurt); FDP 4.9% (may/may not get in)

submitted 81 days ago • 2 comments

30 mins til exit polls in German elections. Asked how the economy is doing 16% say well 83% say badly. Asked about their own economic circs, 83% say good 16% say bad. That's German pessimism/miserabilism in a nutshell.

submitted 81 days ago • 1 comment

Just voted for the first time in Germany. In these most important elections for several generations. My decisions were based on who can best defend Germany and Europe from the Putin-Trump menace

submitted 81 days ago • 1 comment

Start of frantic day trying to explain these seismic German elections. Starting with Broadcasting House @bbcradio4.bsky.social

submitted 81 days ago • 1 comment

submitted 82 days ago • 1 comment

Threatened by Trump and by Putin, the weekend of reckoning for Germany, and for Europe, is underway johnkampfner.substack.com/p/a-weekend-...

submitted 82 days ago • 0 comments

"While CDU leader Friedrich Merz has many faults, not least the habit of shooting from the hip, lack of resolve isn’t one of them. So, will this finally be the moment Germany steps up?" writes John Kampfner in his latest commentary. 🔗 www.politico.eu/article/frie...

submitted 83 days ago • 6 comments

All the possible scenarios, domestic and international, on the eve of the German elections. Long interview this morning @bloomberg.com @bloomberglp.bsky.social www.bloomberg.com/news/videos/...

submitted 83 days ago • 1 comment

Does Merz have what it takes? Latest column @politico.eu www.politico.eu/article/frie...

submitted 83 days ago • 0 comments

Losing the US as an ally is a blow to Europe, but for Germany it's existential. It strikes at the heart of 80 years of stability and security. Three days before election, interview with me on The World at One @bbcradio4.bsky.social (30 mins in), www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...

submitted 84 days ago • 0 comments

Is the US friend or foe? Key question we discussed in To The Point @deutschewelle.bsky.social

submitted 84 days ago • 2 comments

I enjoyed this piece @thespectator1828.bsky.social. At least the author spelt my name right. Just so that this German expert knows for the future, the other object of his repeated ire, Christoph Heusgen, isn't spelt Heugsen. www.spectator.co.uk/article/why-...

submitted 85 days ago • 0 comments

Sunday's elections will help determine whether Germans have woken up. Will they finally appreciate the need to use hard power to defend the post-1945 settlement that gave their country a moral purpose? My take on the Trumpian onslaught @munsecconf.bsky.social www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

submitted 86 days ago • 0 comments

Why not, indeed? The coffee and the cinnamon buns would be better as a result www.theguardian.com/world/2025/f...

submitted 92 days ago • 0 comments

Germany's big election face-off between Merz and Scholz. Takeways: Two competent technocrats with a good grasp of policy issues but little emotional intelligence Differences on migration (but not as large as claimed) Differences on economy (significant) Amusing height optics Not a word on climate

submitted 94 days ago • 0 comments