Those who reject integration programs in the long term have as little right to stay in Germany as a hate preacher paid from abroad in a mosque.

The idea that the growing demand for energy worldwide can be met with energy from nuclear power is nonsense.

Taming the financial markets and winning back democratic control over them is the central condition for creating a new social balance in Germany and Europe.

I hope Gunter Grass will continue helping the SPD in campaigns and that he will otherwise remain with us as a provocative literary figure, as well.

I'm hearing different things, but there is concern that stable Germany is no longer quite so stable.

Finding the right form of debate regarding Israeli policies will remain a challenge in Germany. Even with every conceivable and warranted criticism, the danger always arises that it will be exploited by those who consciously or unconsciously present anti-Semitism in a new guise.

It is clear that Germany needs a foreign policy in which we jointly define European interests. Thus far, we have often defined European values, but we have been much too weak in defining mutual interests. To preempt any possible misunderstandings: We cannot give short shrift to our values of freedom, democracy and human rights.