germany goes to the polls — in one of the most consequential elections since reunification. president zelensky says he will give up his presidency — i'm ready to do that. ican i can it for nato, if there is a condition, tanks in the occupied west bank — as israel steps up a military operation — expelling residents of three refugee camps. around world continue to 2, pope.

we are the final hour of we are entering the final hour in what could the of polling in what could be the most consequential collections since reunification. in germany since reunification. let's go to my we been to lots of voters. are here in of voters. we are here in berlin. you can see the brandenburg gate behind us. this is an incredibly election taking consequential election taking in germany, seen as many place in germany, seen as many as a reckoning on previous as a reckoning on the previous government and also a look at how the far right has been here in germany. at the 7 there there are two main 7 there are two main front the next german chancellor. friedrich merz leads the christian democrats 7

the centre—right party led for many years by he is 69 years old, he has part of the christian democrats for many years now he has for many years now but he has never governed. was awarded never governed. he was awarded by the former angela merkel. he came to power in the last few years and has been leading. have been �*e":�*“i�* and tl; lee-cze key; :—-—j 21! gated ,,,,, — ~ . of "we. la; l522"; :--—j 2“! £925— ..... —~ —— . of the ' oftheipolls? w w 7' 7 w 7 of the polls. he ' oftheip’olls? i]; do}; 7 ' oftheip’olls? a; iééks’v'eh be the next 5 for the social democrats, olaf scholz, the current chancellor, comes from the left—wing he comes from hamburg and been seen as a key player. he

the government 5 the government in? in germany's defence, that more in germany's defence, that is because of russia's war on ukraine. he talked about a where the change where the german government would more on government would spend more on defence, especially with the threat of russia's sole close. schultz is popular although schultz is not popular in the right now. 14%. in the polls right now. 14%. last they got north of last election they got north of 25%, a big in 25%, certainly a big drop in support for him. the coalition collapsed because it was unpopular and was and therefore we infighting and therefore we have the snap elections. a lot of eyes on germany are on the far right.

they are leading of 20%. joining me now are our correspondents who is with the cdu. friedrich maritz has been a polarising figure in this campaign with some of the taxi has launched against the has launchedgagainst the parties centre—left parties —— friedrich merz. tell us what is standing is like in the party right now?— standing is like in the party riaht now? ., , right now? eezgéue t... z....: right now? eezgéue t..- z-..:- in long camera work, we are in a long queue to get into cdu == 7 he has been headquarters. he has been around a long time, kicked off political % political career first in parliament. lost out on a the parliament. lost out on a power struggle against angela and left politics for merkel and left politics for many years to pursue lucrative

law career. 69 years coroorate law career. 69 gag-5, ,, ,,, .,. now cereerete lee! career. 69 ueers—r ,, ,,, .,. now as ceraerate law career. s9 uears~ ~ ,,, .,. now as he believes he is on old now as he believes he is on the cast of becoming the next chancellor of germany. so much depend on how those will depend on how those break down. will he numbers break down. will he have tile --- as hopes he former . former 2—party has two former 2—party coalition or consider a three coalition, potentially party coalition, potentially more desperate —— like decisive and deliver changes harder. say there to be people say there needs to be change in germany whether that revitalising the or is revitalising the economy or immigration caused tackling immigration any caused a lot of controversy recently he pushed through a motion when he'aushed threagi�*ame�*e" parliament that relied inparliament thatrelied on far right. he defended his her: .- cut her—i” cut it has?” cut it -- her—i” cut it —— had the md. it the afd. it one of courted the afd. it was one of most moments

most notablegmoments and a lot of protest prompted a lot of protest as well. ., ., well. %§e§e .....-...- lookin: at the well. %§e§e —— ...-...- lookin: at the numbers at you. leaking at thefiumizérfat’ ” point, it will this point, it will be difficult to a coalition. difficult to build a coalition. last night he delivered a speech at the final election event and again drew a lot of criticism for lashing out at the parties he criticism for lashing out at the to parties he criticism for lashing out at the to build es he criticism for lashing out at the to build a ; he might need to build a government.- might need to build a covernment. , ., ., this is absolutely true. yes, this is absolutely true. friedrich merz ' dlafischolzi�*sr 7 ' dlafischolzi�*stimeg ’ of olaf scholz�*s time in government. about how he -.,,..-h,e.-- .....- . , 7777777he7hasn't7 777 7 7777777ee7fiésri'7t75één7 7 7777777ee7fiésfi'i75ééfi a 7777777he7hasn't7beena strong thinks he hasn't been a strong enough leader, just in enough. leadex, notjugt in but in as germany but in wider europe as well. i mention that moment where the firewall saw a debt, olaf schultz was very critical of friedrich merz. they are felt to be some broken trust, how it will these parties come i think some of the

have been would not necessarily 777hi7mself777 777hi7m7sel7f7be 777hi7mself7bein77 77 than; m7; 77 7himself7be m7; coalition e the cdu and afd 77 7 7777the7cdu7an7d7afd i7f 77 7 7777the7c0u7a7n7d7afd7 if that between the cdu and afd if that comes about. from comes about. activists from both those parties, some of sa , this is cam-cain them say, this is campaign season, it is when things do get rough and tap but when it comes down to coalition talks, -= the numbers are they are and if the numbers are they are and people can put aside. but differences aside. but that is not guaranteed and some people would say at age in the would say at this age in the campaign it would be unwise of merz to launch too friedrich merz to launch too attacks a party many attacks with a party might want to do a deal with.- want to do a deal with. nick, the afd coming to you at the afd headquarters. this party quite many we have s-oken to 777theyw7ant777 777theyw7ant7to £857 77 7theyw7ant7to see7radi7cal 7 say they want to see radical change. afd the only party promising that.—

promising that. we are in the north of saying? we are in the north of berlin, — saying? we are in the north of berlin, we _ saying? we are in the north of berlin, we made the journey aaze—e . i.—f.f7 77:— 77: of 'oulists. to with lots ofjournalists. to give — with lots ofjournalists. to give you _ with lots ofjournalists. to give you the of security 72: 7 77-—7 7-—e= 7 7-—e= around the election, we had to id around the election, we had to goare ' tape around the election, we had to go 7 a ' tape and walk go through police tape and walk the last— go through police tape and walk the last part journey the last part of the journey which _ the last part of the journey which i _ the last part of the journey which i have not done covering elections — which i have not done covering elections in different parts of world, that is a the world, that is a reflection of how— the world, that is a reflection of how the afd are divisive and the threat might around the party is be around the party is _ they- be around the party is they are taking something they are taking seriously. no sign the seriously. no sign yet of the the 46—year—old, leader, the 46—year—old, who for- people _ leader, the 46—year—old, who for people might not fit z -::: z —:: z i: z 2 profiia leader of é 2 profiia leader of a é pa efeiefizéze—w party because she is far—right party because she is gay, — far—right party because she is gay, she _ far—right party because she is gay, she has a partner sri gay, she has a partner from sri lahke — gay, she has a partner from sri lahke she _ gay, she has a partner from sri lanka. she spends a lot of her time _ lanka. she spends a lot of her time in — lanka. she spends a lot of her time ih_ 50- lanka. she spends a lot of her time in so for time in switzerland. so for a party— time in switzerland. so for a party stresses family m about a man values and talks about a man and _ values and talks about a man and woman being ”2 of a and a woman being the core of a family. _ and a woman being the core of a family, that might surprise a lot of— family, that might surprise a lot of people. she is picking up lot of people. she is picking up a —

lot of people. she is picking up a lot— lot of people. she is picking up a lot of support and lots of pieces — up a lot of support and lots of places. she has picked up summi— places. she has picked up support and if the polls are :7-=: 27:2 77— - there is a potential. i there is a potential for right, there is a potential for her to— right, there is a potential for her to have double the votes of this party— her to have double the votes of this party from 10% to 20% this round. time round. but the thing to stress — time round. but the thing to stress is _ time round. but the thing to stress is that all the parties are saying they will not work the afd in - of how does the macro coalition. how does the—macro -... -- the afd cs coalition. how does the—mecca i -- the afd cs government -- if7 ifit if it cannot get into government. niece-.7e�*.§e it government. —7e.e-je4.§e it is government. niece-.7e�*.§e it is not their time government. he??? it is not their time in say it is not their time in that— say it is not their time in that maybe at the next election m pa a-e.—.- m party that 77 777 7- 7 7-7 wins outright or is certainly in the — wins outright or is certainly in the ascendancy and is in in the ascendancy—and leia ........-u...,.zaa... position. what in the ascendancyand isrin ——~——~————~——————— position. what the in the ascendancy—and leia ........-u...,.zaa... position. what the afd pole position. what the afd want — pole position. what the afd want to _ pole position. what the afd want to be doing is to be in opposition and really have a go havin- 77? z7 77 7 7-havin any sort of e .7having any sort of coalition i is forei-n. their policies that is foreign. their policies are controversial and that is why— are controversial and that is why the _ are controversial and that is why the other main say why the other main party say they— why the other main party say they will— why the other main party say they will not work for them.

- this— they will not work for them. - this idea _ they will not work for them. this idea of notably this idea of re—migration which according to e -——e ::7—'—— 7—7 7— 77 77 7772 leader of this party, 2 - leader of this party, which i the leader of this party, which meahs— the leader of this party, which means who are illegal means people who are illegal immigrants and criminals will be deported. people say this could — be deported. people say this could go— be deported. people say this could go much further than that, — could go much further than that, second—generation that, maybe second—generation arrivais— that, maybe second—generation arrivals to — that, maybe second—generation arrivals to germany could be thrown — arrivals to germany could be thrown out of the country. 0ther— thrown out of the country. other sort of that other sort of policies that seem _ other sort of policies that seem to _ other sort of policies that seem to quite well, seem to have done quite well, they— seem to have done quite well, they talk— seem to have done quite well, they talk about the economy %= —= like all the other parties but they— like all the other parties but they are _ like all the other parties but they are pro—russia and they thee are areritueeia and thee "”’*”"””"" about thee are arerfieeeia and thee "”’*”"””"" about restorin- thee are arereeeeia and thee "w’eme’m'" about restorin- -as are talking about restoring gas iihks _ are talking about restoring gas links and — are talking about restoring gas links and other sort of energy soppiies_ links and other sort of energy supplies left russia. they suooi' st. ”leena think sghhlies left russia they think that germany should don't think that germany should fund _ don't think that germany should fund the — don't think that germany should fund the war in ukraine so these _ fund the war in ukraine so these are— fund the war in ukraine so these are really crucial these a re reall crucial these a re really crucial that people will be 7 up, the voters weighing upflhe voters-yvette -m weighing upflhe voters will been thinking about in the have been thinking about in the weeks — have been thinking about in the weeks before this vote. we will need _ weeks before this vote. we will heed to— weeks before this vote. we will need to see how well the afd do weeks before this vote. we will nee see see how well the afd do weeks before this vote. we will nee see ifre how well the afd do weeks before this vote. we will nee see if they n well the afd do weeks before this vote. we will nee see if they hit ell the afd do weeks before this vote. we will nee see if they hit that 1e afd do weeks before this vote. we will nee see if they hit that 20% d do which the poll su- -ests mark which the -oll su-es check which the oll sug; mm , in e check which the oll sug; they will do. great to catch up with ou they will do. great to catch up with you - we _ they will do. great to catch up with you - we will - they will do. great to catch up with you - we will speak. they will do. great to catch up |

with you - we will speak to the course of the you through the course of the evening. i have the director of the policy institution. to 7 to have 7 to have you. we were great to have you. we were talking about nick at the afd headquarters. this is a has been proven to 7 has been proven to have that has been proven to have radical elements. radical extremist elements. thinking about a former leader t7heir nazi past t77heir nazi past being saying their nazi past being bird has to be bird'droppings; that'has to be it birdrdroppings; that'h - - , underlined? it will be a sad for underlined? it will be a sad - for german _ underlined? it will be a sad j - for german democracy, underlined? it will be a sad i - for german democracy, it day for german democracy, it is a beautiful backdrop with the sun on brandenburg sun setting on brandenburg gate. it is the first time after the second world war that afterthe second world teaarthat——— ,- ... .- ..- , far afterthe second world talarthat—~ ,- ~— —— ~— , far right extremist party are far right extremist party will come in second. it is a sad day 2; need will come in second. it is a sad day 2: need to sad dae but we need te and sad day but we need te and get to the acknowledge and get to the roots of what is happen and, voters 7 voters 7will vote for 7 v7oters7will vote for that white voters will vote for that party. white voters will vote for that .a _ . ., , white voters will vote for that

the voters. they say that when parties are not meeting their some of that is expectations. some of that is immigrations and is 7is dissatisfaction77 7is dissatisfaction7with there is dissatisfaction with the inability to control in europe and migration in europe and germany. we have seen their largest real wage loss in democratic 7 democratic history in german democratic history in the past 75 over the the past 75 years, over the past three four years with costs a nd costs and some the energy costs and some are unhappy with stance unhappy with their stance they government has taken on russia ukraine. afd can project a alternative 7 alternative to 7 alternative to this. credible alternative to this. they have said they want germany to play a role germany to play a neutral role in war in germany to play a neutral role in warin ukraine. germany to play a neutral role in war in ukraine. we in russia's war in ukraine. we at the look at the christian democrats, friedrich merz. we were talking with the were talk-ea at“ the where friedrich has 7

has bee7n criticised has been criticised on merz has been criticised on launching attacks on people of therreererr'” parties. there a video last night when was a video last night when final with him launching further attacks. final with him launching furtherattacks. how final with him launching further attacks. how easy do you think it will be for him to turn around and build a coalition with those a coalition will building a coalition will be tough to begin with because given smaller given such smaller partiee' " " ” " ' make it given such smaller parties " " ” " ' make it into parliament, might make it into parliament, there have to be another there may have to be another coalition made up of three parties and that is tough to begin with. i did not think it was a good idea to antagonise was a good—ideateantagonise centre—left the centre—left forces which friedrich merz need to friedrich merz might need to govern. it will be upon him. at 6pm, all democratic germans gpn�*r, allden�*mcratic germans in him gpm', alldemocratic germans in him succeeding have a stake in him succeeding with his chancellorship if he were elected. he then needs to to unite the and start to unite the country and make offers for abroad based that actually

problems that addresses the problems that are concerned late germans are concerned about. we will be watching those numbers closely and to see �* those closely and to see how those smaller parties do. talk about the far left party that has seen surprising rise in the seen a surprising rise in the polls and about the liberals who are part of the government 77 eoiléfiséd, 77 7 777777 77 eoiléfiséd, whether 77 777777 77 eoiléfiséd, heiress; 77 777777 that collapsed, whether they will make it into the gap parliament? oif will make it into the gap parliament? _ parliament? one of the surprising _ parliament? one of the surprising elements - parliament? one of the surprising elements of| parliament? one of the . surprising elements of this selection as when the mini search �* the selection as when the mini search �*the left i iven given that7the 7 given that7the greens and think given that the greens and social democrats, the social democrats, the forces became sentreetett f�*r-ee he-eme ’*”"’*”'""’"* on sentreetett 5“? he�*eme " " ' " " �*on migration, 7 �*on migration, they sentreetett 5“? he�*eme " " ' " " �*on migration, they were a... sig. as. 7. a.-u ...u. out... ...,... toproje7ctan able to project an alternative. i think they will safely be in lthinis. they" will safely" be in ”""' ” ’ according to lthine they will safely be in ”""' ” ’ according to the parliament according to the polls. it will be a clip hanger the liberals, they have for the liberals, they have antagonise quite a voters antagonise guitea few voters being so obstinate in the 7and in de 77 has gnawing 7 and in de blowing it coalition and in de blowing lt —— right cliffhanger. there coalition and in de blowing lt some |ht cliffhanger. there coalition and in de blowing lt some germans 1ger. there coalition and in de blowing lt some germans who. there coalition and in de blowing lt some germans who think e coalition and in de blowing lt some germans who think that are some germans who think that germany should have liberal

germanyshouldhave a liberal in parliament germanyshouldhavea