Who will lead Germany next? In this episode of Berlin Briefing, we break down the key players in Germany’s upcoming elections, the ripple effects of JD Vance’s game-changing MSC 2025 speech and its impact on Europe’s security, and why smaller parties could complicate the formation of the next coalition. Plus, we reveal what the latest polls are saying and share final predictions.

At a memorable Munich Security Conference, US Vice President JD Vance lectured the Europeans on what democracy should really mean, questioning its institutions. In this special edition from Munich, host Michaela Küfner breaks down the messages from MSC 2025 together with Jackson Janes (German Marshall Fund), Peter R. Neumann (King's College London) and DW's Brussels correspondent Teri Schultz.

How do women leaders in Europe view current security challenges? Will the US be a reliable ally? Are democracies around the world under threat? DW’s Berlin Briefing and One Decision Podcast teamed up to host a powerful, all-female panel at the MSC: Latvian Foreign Minister Baiba Braze, former Icelandic Foreign Minister Thordis Gylfadottir, and former Dutch Deputy Prime Minister Kajsa Ollongren.

Germany's Green Party is campaigning for a second term in government. Their time in power has been controversial, with coalition infighting over climate policy and the economy. How did the Greens go from 1980s peace activists to 2020s military hawks? Why are they so hated by some sections of society? And can chancellor candidate Robert Habeck bring them back into government?

Germany’s likely next Chancellor Friedrich Merz just shook up the election campaign. He took a major political risk by relying on the far-right AfD for a majority in parliament for the first time. Tens of thousands took to the streets protesting the move. Did Merz just cancel his smooth ride to the chancellory? Or could he break the political paralysis around the AfD’s lifeblood issue: Migration.

Olaf Scholz’s government collapsed after months of infighting and deadlock. He’s attempting a comeback in the upcoming elections. What was the interplay between Russia's war on Ukraine, Germany’s economic malaise, and political dysfunction? Do the battles over migration provide Scholz with an opportunity? DW’s Richard Walker, Nina Haase and Michaela Küfner break it all down.

Friedrich Merz is the frontrunner to become Germany’s next leader after February’s elections. In this episode, DW’s Richard Walker and Michaela Küfner break it all down with writer John Kampfner. Who is Merz? Why did he have a feud with Merkel? How would he deal with Donald Trump, Vladimir Putin, the Ukraine war and the challenge of China? And can he deliver the reboot that he says Germany needs?

In this episode, DW’s Michaela Küfner, Nina Haase, Giulia Saudelli and Matthew Moore dive into the German election campaign, breaking down the key issues shaping the upcoming federal election. They explore the differences between the main parties on immigration, Russia's war on Ukraine, and climate change. And they wrapped up with their predictions for the election's outcome.

From Hitler, education and energy, to Mars colonization - X owner Elon Musk's chat with the far-right AfD party's Alice Weidel left many people puzzled. We break it down with Kate Conger, co-author of 'CharacterLimit: How Elon Musk destroyed Twitter'.

Germany’s new BSW party, led by Sahra Wagenknecht, is shaking up politics with a mix of left- and right-wing ideas. Opposing NATO and climate policies while advocating for a stronger welfare state and industry revival, it’s dividing opinions ahead of the elections. DW’s Richard Walker, Matthew Moore, and historian Katja Hoyer explore its platform and potential impact.