Germany’s Social Democrats are sending Martin Schulz to do battle with Angela Merkel in September’s election. Does he stand a chance? Guests: Ulrike Guérot (European Democracy Lab), Alan Posener (Die Welt) and Derek Scally (Irish Times).Our guests:

Ulrike Guérot is the founder and director of the think tank European Democracy Lab. She says: "Martin Schulz represents the hope that Germany's role in Europe will change. That will be good for European social democracy, and it will stop the rise of the right-wing populists."

Derek Scally is the Germany correspondent of the Irish Times. He says: “The SPD and Martin Schulz have to finally decide what they want to be: Merkel's majority-maker or enabler of a new, social EU.”

Alan Posener is a political commentator for Die Welt and he says: “Martin Schulz has spent his entire political life in Brussels. He has no idea how Germany ticks. He will lead the SPD into oblivion.”