German Chancellor Friedrich Merz called the results of the latest state elections a ‘disaster.’ The AfD surged in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and the socialist Left Party won
Berlin. It’s yet another setback for Germany’s political center. Is Chancellor Merz losing control of the political narrative, and what do these elections reveal about the future of German politics?
This week on Berlin Briefing, Nina Haase is joined by DW Chief Political Editor Michaela Küfner and Berlin Bureau Chief Max Hofmann to unpack the election results, the pressure
facing Merz, the AfD’s continued rise, and the Left Party’s breakthrough victory in Berlin. They examine whether Germany’s political center is losing ground, who stands to benefit, and what these elections could mean for the country’s future.
00:00 Merz calls election result a “disaster”
01:14 CDU collapse and election winners explained
03:21 Is Merz a lame duck?
06:39 The rise of Germany’s political fringes
08:24 The CDU’s identity crisis after Angela Merkel
13:05 Can the AfDreplace Germany’s conservatives?
17:20 The youth vote is reshaping German politics
21:05 Berlin’s left-wing surge and its challenges
25:10 Pensions, healthcare and tax reform
27:25 Is Merz the right man for the job?
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