Ryan Walshaw
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ryanwalshaw.bsky.social
Ryan Walshaw
@ryanwalshaw.bsky.social
Modern European History grad student @ Oxford

Project Manager @ Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung London
Hello Bluesky, it's been a while. In the time I've been away from here and Deutschland Dispatches, there's been some exciting developments. I've started a new job at the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung in London!

Please be sure to give their account a follow & stay tuned for updates! @fes-uk.bsky.social
May 13, 2025 at 9:16 AM
Reposted by Ryan Walshaw
Meine Lieblingssätze aus dem Koalitionsvertrag:

"Astronautische Weltraummissionen inspirieren die nächste Generation zu Höchstleistungen."

"Auch die Meere sehen wir als digitalen Chancenraum."

"Gesetze, Verordnungen und Regelungen, die nicht gemacht werden müssen, werden wir nicht machen."
April 10, 2025 at 3:39 PM
As Olaf Scholz crosses his fingers & hopes he *loses* a confidence vote, read my recap of how 🇩🇪 got here, and a preview of the coming election

++: Two big dev'ts in 🇩🇪 and 🇦🇹 energy supply, including a big moment for Gazprom's continuing presence in Europe.
ryanwalshaw.substack.com/p/germany-se...
Germany set to go to polls in February: what to expect
Monday, 16th December 2024
ryanwalshaw.substack.com
December 16, 2024 at 3:46 PM
Shortly before the fall of the Ampel govt, I sat down with Stefanie Middendorf, Prof of Contemporary History at Jena, for a fascinating chat about emergency, memory and consensus, trying to trace the long roots of 🇩🇪's omnicrisis

Read our convo in full here: ryanwalshaw.substack.com/p/state-of-e...
State of emergency and the 'death of consensus': whither Germany?
In Conversation with Prof. Stefanie Middendorf, University of Jena
ryanwalshaw.substack.com
November 22, 2024 at 4:35 PM
Reposted by Ryan Walshaw
Negotiations on first British-German treaty on ice, future uncertain
Negotiations on first British-German treaty on ice, future uncertain
German snap elections leaves ratification of treaty with "little prospect of success", Euractiv learns from government sources.
dlvr.it
November 18, 2024 at 5:49 AM
🇩🇪 ambitions in chipmaking take another hit as Wolfspeed's $3bn project in the traditional industrial region of Saarland is thrown into jeopardy
Meanwhile Finance Minister Christian Lindner has been appealing to investors in NYC ahead of IMF meeting in Washington
open.substack.com/pub/ryanwals...
Another blow to German chipmaking: automotive supplier ZF jeopardises $3bn Saarland project ++ Scholz's tense appearance at employers' summit ++ Lindner panhandling in New York ahead of IMF meeting
Wednesday 23rd October
open.substack.com
October 23, 2024 at 8:47 AM
Find out why Germany's Mittelstand is so worried about UniCredit's takeover of Commerzbank + why it might endanger German ability to compete with China for overseas trade

+ Latest from Thuringia, where BSW is insisting on a commitment to 'peace' in coalition talks

open.substack.com/pub/ryanwals...
Why the UniCredit-Commerzbank takeover matters so much to Berlin ++ Wagenknecht's 'peace' conditions for CDU, SPD in Thuringia ++ Attack on Israeli embassy thwarted by German security services
Monday 21st October
open.substack.com
October 21, 2024 at 11:50 AM
Reposted by Ryan Walshaw
This is a very good article by @lukemcgee.bsky.social

Something he doesn’t say is that the far-left BSW in Germany (now being courted by the centre to form anti-AfD coalitions at state level) is also pro-Russian. (I know this thanks to @ryanwalshaw.bsky.social’s excellent German press summary)
Europe must do more for Ukraine
A Russian victory would deepen the continent’s political and economic crises and bring Putin’s forces to its borders
www.prospectmagazine.co.uk
October 17, 2024 at 6:58 PM
New report shows how 🇩🇪 carmakers are suffering from inaction on EV transition. Losses in market shares in 🇺🇸, 🇪🇺 and 🇨🇳 to likes of Tesla, BYD

+ Intelligence chiefs warn B'tag of 🇷🇺 threat, demand greater powers to investigate financial ties, incl to "certain parties"
open.substack.com/pub/ryanwals...
German carmakers suffer market share losses ++ Security chiefs issue stark Russia warning, demand greater financial investigation powers at Bundestag hearing
Tuesday 15th October
open.substack.com
October 15, 2024 at 9:06 AM
Econ minister Habeck expected to deliver grim outlook in speech on Weds: 🇩🇪 now expected to end '24 0.2% in recession. He's apparently bullish about '25, tho this assumes a functioning govt(!)

+ Commerzbank's brand-new CEO gives a punchy i/v to Handelsblatt
ryanwalshaw.substack.com/p/habecks-gr...
Habeck's growth gloom ++ Commerzbank's new CEO Orlopp gives frosty first interview
Monday 7th October
ryanwalshaw.substack.com
October 7, 2024 at 10:47 AM
Reposted by Ryan Walshaw
Some reflections on Germany’s no-vote on European duties on Chinese EVs, that just passed.

Scholz is trying to signal détente to China and protect the interests of car multinationals.

In the long-run, Berlin may end up thanking the Commission and EU partners for avoiding a strategic blunder.

1/
October 4, 2024 at 9:51 AM
Reports overnight that Scholz is considering a call to Moscow, as BSW plans to hold 'peace demo' in Berlin tmo

+ UAE oil firm's acquisition of Leverkusen-based chemical firm Covestro for €16bn leaves some wondering whether 🇩🇪 is entering an era of mass selloffs
open.substack.com/pub/ryanwals...
Scholz considering call to Moscow, Zeit says ++ Covestro-Adnoc deal fuels further pessimism about German competitiveness
Wednesday 2nd October
open.substack.com
October 2, 2024 at 9:09 AM
My latest post covers the FDP’s latest threat to the ‘traffic light’, growing speculation about a palace coup in the SPD, personnel changes at Nato, and a deep dive into the nasty impact conflict in the Middle East is having on Berlin’s club scene

ryanwalshaw.substack.com/p/fdp-threat...
FDP threaten coalition (again) with opposition to pension reform ++ Pistorius speculation grows: Defence Minister will stand for Bundestag
Tuesday 1st October
ryanwalshaw.substack.com
October 1, 2024 at 9:48 AM
From Brandenburg, to the banks:

I've written up a summary of Berlin's latest episode of impotent rage over 🇮🇹 bank UniCredit's attempted takeover of Commerzbank. Scholz's opposition, while it might make some domestic sense, is the definition of a lose-lose

open.substack.com/pub/ryanwals...
Commerzbank fiasco embarrasses Berlin
Wedensday 25th September
open.substack.com
September 25, 2024 at 9:53 AM
FDP declares 'autumn of decisions' and say they will make a decision on continued participation 'before Xmas'.

Feels like they now see few advantages to propping up the fed coalition after their drubbing on Sunday

+ BSW hold the cards in Brandenburg talks

open.substack.com/pub/ryanwals...
FDP declares 'Autumn of Decisions', considers position in federal coalition ++ CDU reluctant to join govt negotiations in Brandenburg
Tuesday 24th September
open.substack.com
September 24, 2024 at 9:04 AM
My writeup of the SPD's lucky escape in yday's election in Brandenburg and national press reaction

General impression: this is SPD state leader Woidke's win, def not Scholz's. Spiegel now openly calling for Scholz's replacement as leader by Boris Pistorius

ryanwalshaw.substack.com/p/woidkes-ga...
Woidke's gamble pays off: SPD scrape win in Brandenburg
Monday 23rd September
ryanwalshaw.substack.com
September 23, 2024 at 9:26 AM
Read my preview of tomorrow’s high-stakes elections in Brandenburg
SPD have been the largest party here in *every election since reunification*. Now Dietmar Woidke, SPD governor for 11 years, has had to gamble his job in an effort to keep the AfD out of 1st place

open.substack.com/pub/ryanwals...
Brandenburg goes to the polls tomorrow: what to expect
Saturday 21st September
open.substack.com
September 21, 2024 at 10:22 AM
Today's post on the accusations of 'power politics' being levelled at both Friedrich Merz and Ursula von der Leyen, and the very entertaining reactions of those on the receiving end: Markus Söder and Thierry Breton.

open.substack.com/pub/ryanwals...
Merz and von der Leyen's power-plays in Berlin and Brussels
Wednesday 18th September
open.substack.com
September 18, 2024 at 9:06 AM
How revealing: Intel delays $30m project in Magdeburg, and all Germany's govt can talk about is what it means for the gap in the budget.

+ BREAKING NEWS: Spiegel says Friedrich Merz due to be named CDU/CSU candidate in under an hour's time as Söder steps back

open.substack.com/pub/ryanwals...
Intel delays work on new microchip site in Magdeburg ++ Merz to be named CDU/CSU candidate for Chancellor as Söder set to step back
Tuesday 17th September
open.substack.com
September 17, 2024 at 9:17 AM
Well that went well:

CDU walked out of yday's migration summit unhappy with govt proposals. Scholz has called Merz's behaviour 'provincial am-dram'

Govt says it will push on with its proposals, which Spiegel calls 'astonishing', with or without CDU.
More here:

open.substack.com/pub/ryanwals...
September 11, 2024 at 9:02 AM
Reposted by Ryan Walshaw
Germany’s complete disregard of #Schengen - ethically wrong, and practically unworkable

Blog post, in light of crossing a lot of Germany's borders 👇
euroblog.jonworth.eu/germanys-com...
Germany's complete disregard of Schengen - ethically wrong, and practically unworkable - Jon Worth Euroblog
Back in the autumn of last year, in a train in Freilassing, a German police officer came through the carriage and asked for everyone’s passport. “Why are you checking all the passengers on this train?...
euroblog.jonworth.eu
September 10, 2024 at 3:01 PM
Today’s post on Berlin’s imposition of checks at all of its borders amid the febrile debate about migration.

Solingen attack and AfD breakthrough electoral success is combining to force a rapid and radical shift in migration policy at the heart of the EU

ryanwalshaw.substack.com/p/berlin-to-...
ryanwalshaw.substack.com
September 10, 2024 at 7:52 PM
Yesterday saw the last of German TV's political 'summer interviews', with ZDF sitting down with Scholz. It was everything a season finale should be. He became increasingly combative, ending with some interesting lines re 🇺🇦, NordStream + Zelensky.

My analysis here:

open.substack.com/pub/ryanwals...
Scholz calls for "quicker progress towards peace" in Ukraine: Chancellor's ZDF interview analysed
Monday 9th September
open.substack.com
September 9, 2024 at 11:10 AM
This week's review of UK coverage in 🇩🇪 is out now, covering:
-UK's partial embargo on 🇮🇱
-Today's meeting of NATO and 🇺🇦 defence officials at Ramstein
- Grenfell Fire report

+ Oasis mania, incl some shockingly poor reviews of the band from German 'culture' writers!
open.substack.com/pub/ryanwals...
The UK in Germany this week: arms embargo, Grenfell Report, and Oasis mania
Friday 6th September
open.substack.com
September 6, 2024 at 9:20 AM