How did Germany’s newly elected chancellor debut as a peacemaker in Europe after his visit to Kyiv alongside fellow European leaders? Can he lead while caught between the U.S. and Russian presidents? DW’s Chief Political Editor Michaela Küfner discusses Merz’s first steps as Germany’s new chancellor on the European stage with Andreas Rinke from Reuters and Aylin Matlé from DGAP.

While the far-right AfD has seized global attention, the far left of German politics is also making gains. The Left Party was the #1 choice for first-time voters in the recent elections. Why are so many young voters drawn to its socialist agenda? DW’s Richard Walker unpacks the Left Party and its growing influence with Matthew Moore and Bernd Riegert from the DW politics team.

Who are the power brokers in the new German government? DW’s Michaela Küfner breaks down who Friedrich Merz has chosen for his new cabinet. Together with DW’s Nina Haase she analyzes how Foreign Minister J.Wadephul and incoming Trade Minister Katherina Reiche fit into Merz’ government picture. Special guest is Johannes Winkel, leader of the youth organization of Merz’ Conservative CDU party.

Is Crimea the key to peace in Ukraine? On today’s episode, we break down Donald Trump’s claim that President Zelenskyy is prolonging the war by resisting calls to cede the Ukrainian peninsula Crimea to Russia. Our guests have updates on a devastating attack in Kyiv and on Friedrich Merz' controversial Taurus missile hint.

Germany’s incoming government will face a geopolitical nightmare from Day 1. Stuck between a hostile White House and a China which threatens Germany’s crucial auto industry. Can likely Chancellor Friedrich Merz handle both at the same time? In this edition of Berlin Briefing, Richard Walker jumps into the Germany-China-US dynamic with Andrew Small of GMF and DW’s Melissa Chan in Taipei.

Germany's likely next government has published its much-awaited coalition agreement. The political marriage document between Friedrich Merz's conservative CDU/CSU party and the Social Democrat SPD marks a clamp down on migration. It also promises a huge boost for Germany's struggling economy. But will Merz's plan to stop the deindustrialization of Germany work?

Migration is again a defining political battleground in Germany. With Friedrich Merz pushing for a 'Migrationswende,' his election victory brings promises of change, but coalition politics may complicate the path forward. Can Germany’s next government deliver on tougher migration policies, or will compromises dilute the vision?

Turkey’s President Erdogan has had the mayor of Istanbul Imamoglu arrested. The EU condemns the arrest but stops short of threatening any action. In this episode DW’s Michaela Küfner asks whether Europe can afford standing up to Erdogan? Her guests, Can Merey (RND) and former EU ambassador to Turkey Marc Pierini map out why Germany and Europe are so highly dependent on Erdogan.

Donald Trump is reshaping America’s ties with its allies. Will his policies push EU states to unite? Why should anyone who cares about democracy be paying close attention to the relationship between Germany and France? And why is Germany tightening its US travel advice? DW’s Nina Haase explores these questions with Max Hofmann (DW) and Jacob Ross (DGAP) in this episode of Berlin Briefing.

Germany’s likely next chancellor Friedrich Merz is already hailed as the man who could forge what the EU needs most: unity. So far he has seen a lot of advance praise, but how will his ambition to turn Germany from a “hesitant” to a “leading middle power” really be felt in Europe?