Germany entered a new political era this week as the Bundestag met for the first time since last month's pivotal general election. Does the country's leader-in-waiting, Friedrich Merz, have what it takes to reassure a fractious nation worrying about its fading status as an economic giant and lead Germany toward smoother transatlantic relations? Some question whether he has the political skillset to provide firm leadership.

Host Anne McElvoy talks to Gordon Repinski, POLITICO’s executive editor in Germany and host of the Berlin Playbook podcast, and Jennifer Wilton, editor-in-chief of the daily newspaper Die Welt. They survey the challenges facing Merz as he tries to forge a grand coalition between his Christian Democrat party and the Social Democrats. A sluggish economy, a growing defense budget and the war in Ukraine loom large as Merz prepares to take over the Chancellery.

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