logo
episode-header-image
Apr 2025
14m 31s

What’s next for Berlin?

ECFR
About this episode

Friedrich Merz is set to become Germany’s next chancellor after Social Democratic Party members approved a coalition agreement with the Christian Democratic Union and its Bavarian sister party the Christian Social Union—bringing Olaf Scholz’s tenure to an end. 


In this emergency episode of World in 30 Minutes, Mark Leonard is joined by Jana Puglierin, head of ECFR’s Berlin office, to break down what happens next. How have the ministries been divided up? What does it reveal about the direction of the new government? And how will it shape Germany’s role in Europe and the world? 


This podcast was recorded on 30th of April 2025. 


Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Up next
Nov 21
Trump's 28-point plan for Ukraine
<p>In this emergency podcast episode, <strong>Mark Leonard</strong> welcomes <strong>Jana Kobzova</strong>, co-director of ECFR’s European Security Programme, and <strong>Jim O’Brien</strong>, former US assistant secretary of state for Europe and ECFR distinguished policy fellow, ... Show More
30m 37s
Nov 21
The future of European air defence
<p>Europe’s most ambitious defence project is in deep trouble. Europe’s Future Combat Air System (FCAS), presented as the crown jewel of Franco-German cooperation, was meant to deliver a next-generation defence system ready to meet the demands of an increasingly dangerous world. ... Show More
26m 8s
Nov 14
The politics of migration and integration
<p>Across Europe, immigration and integration have become pressing political issues. The far right is surging in national polls, and debates over borders and national identity are reshaping party systems and public life.</p><br><p>This week, <strong>Mark Leonard </strong>is joine ... Show More
28m 32s
Recommended Episodes
Feb 2025
Can Germany’s next chancellor help Europe deal with Trump?
Germany has voted, and Friedrich Merz is now the chancellor-in-waiting. But can he rise to the occasion? With Donald Trump signaling a retreat from Europe and cozying up to Vladimir Putin, the continent faces its biggest security challenge in decades. Will Merz shake off Germany’ ... Show More
40m 6s
Feb 2025
Next German chancellor: The US is indifferent to Europe's fate
The man due to become Germany's next chancellor, Friedrich Merz, has issued a stark warning to Europe that the United States has become indifferent to the continent's fate and it must become independent. The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) had a record second-place result ... Show More
48m 16s
Sep 2024
Brussels’ back-to-school blues
It’s been a particularly chaotic rentrée for Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. In this week’s episode of EU Confidential, we talk about the mad dash to name the new slate of commissioners, while getting the right balance of politics, geography, gender and expertise. Host ... Show More
33m 34s
Nov 2024
Parting Scholz: what next for Germany?
<p>At a time when Russia is making gains in Ukraine and Donald Trump has been re-elected as president, Europe needs strong leadership. Instead, <a href="https://www.economist.com/leaders/2024/11/07/europe-needs-to-wake-up-and-look-after-itself?utm_campaign=a.io&utm_medium=audio.p ... Show More
23m 46s
Feb 2025
Germany's rightward march
Germany's far-right Alternative for Germany party won its best ever results this weekend. We hear why an anti-immigrant, fascist-curious party is surging in the land that gave birth to Nazism. This episode was produced by Travis Larchuk with help from Avishay Artsy, edited by Ami ... Show More
25m 51s
Dec 2024
111. Angela Merkel: Putin, Trump, and Europe's future
What lessons on leadership does Angela Merkel have after 16 years served as Chancellor of Germany? Does she have any regrets from her tenure? What was it like being in East Germany when the Berlin wall fell? And what should Europe do to ensure the future security of Ukraine? Ror ... Show More
1h 6m
Feb 2025
German Electioncast! (The Results)
Today, we look at the projected election results from Germany.The conservative Christian Democrats (CDU)/CSU party will be the largest party in the next German parliament with 30% of the vote and will look to form a coalition government, though not with the party that looks to ha ... Show More
33m 14s
Aug 2024
Summer special: Who votes for the European far right? And why?
While the podcast takes a little break, we bring this insightful episode back into your feed — unpacking details of who votes for the far right in Europe. We unpack what drives voters to abandon the mainstream and more traditional party loyalties for the far right, and how povert ... Show More
38m 44s
Oct 2024
From 'Fortress Austria' to 'Fortress Europe'?
In this week’s episode of EU Confidential, we tackle the complex forces shaping Europe’s future — where political shifts, migration and escalating conflict in neighboring regions are all colliding. As tensions in the Middle East intensify, POLITICO's Opinion Editor Jamie Dettmer ... Show More
38m 35s
Feb 2025
En Allemagne, derrière la victoire des conservateurs, le score historique de l’extrême droite
C’en est fini d’Olaf Scholtz. Le chancelier allemand a été sèchement battu dans les urnes dimanche avec seulement 16,4&nbsp;% des voix pour son parti, le SPD. Le prochain chancelier devrait donc être Friedrich Merz, chef de file des conservateurs de la CDU-CSU. Mais le fait remar ... Show More
18m 17s