lam sumi i am sumi somaskanda live in berlin where the now turns to where the question now turns to building a coalition government. building’a'tnafitifin government, merz says he will not work ffi55fi5h m55 55155 h5 wiltniét'figf's; the far ffi55fi5h m55 5535 h5 wiltniét'figf's; the far right the question with the far right on the question now moves forward to who he will he work with? volodymyr zelensky says he's willing to give condition in hospital, but hasn't had any respiratory to have secured a decisive victory in snap elections. christian democrats is poised to become germany's next but the far—right alternative

for germany party, better known as afd, came in second with a record 20%. of chancellor olaf scholz�*s coalition last fall. social democrats, were considered the biggest losers of sunday's election, pointing to german voters�* frustration with the incumbent government. sumi somaskanda joins me now from berlin. talk” 557 ~ ”7 5 me talk” 557 77”, 5 me about talk” m5 77—5 — me about the talk—5 555 555 5 me about the reaction the talk to me about the reaction from the ground from germany's party leaders. we heard earlierfrom leaders. we 5he5rd555rlier frem merz leaders. we 5he5rd5e5rlier frem merz addressing leaders. we rheardrearlier frem merz addressing the iffwes, it hafni mg public. yes, it has been an interesting _ public. yes, it has been an interesting evening. - public. yes, it has been an interesting evening. we i public. yes, it has been an i interesting evening. we have public. yes, it has been an - interesting evening. we have heard all party leaders. from all the party leaders. traditionally in germany on tr55iti555ll3i5'fl5rm5fl5 55 55 night about tr55iti555ll3i5'fl5rm5fls 55. 55. night about an hour and a you -555?; you get 7. 5,5 5 a, if: f ybu get the half after you get the exit poll results, you see all of the chancellor from the

chancellorcandidatesfromallthe party sitting together around a main party sitting together around a big on german television where they the results big on german televisien where they the results the talk about the results and the of how things go forward here. very 77 77 here. very interesting to note from here. very interesting to note that alice weidel, leader of the "fighif " �*rightafd, ' �* right afd, said she felt there far right afd, said she felt there is a democratic deficit in germany system because her party was bozanic system because her party was able to achieve their result able to achieve their best result ever come close to 20% of the vote. to say that that's the "mu-“5“ t“ �*5 “fit t�*eszt's tbs? ,- ~ 55" ' 5 ~ time in germany's "�*""“"5"�* t“ �*5 “fit tbst�*s ties? '5 ~ 5” — ,-, ~ tir that germany's best—war "�*""“"5"�* t“ �*5 “fit tbst�*s ties? '5 ~ 5” — ,-, ~ tir that a ermany�*s best—war "�*"2“"3"" t* �*s tiss�* “sf" tis5 ,- ~ .-,, — —5— —— tir that a far—right best—war tir that a far—right party war tir that a far—right party has history that a far—right party has that and yet they been that successful and yet they will not part of any government will not be part of any government because, as he said, the other centrist parties have all said they not form a coalition the 7771-7 i 7 77777 777 7777777777777 7 7777:- 7t.th777777 7777777777777 7 ri - ht. that is 7�*7rig7h7t.7that7is77h7i7sto7rically7 7 77 e—s :-—7 77 is; 552115 77 15553355; 77 is; 552170; that/5777 since the end of the war something that the centrist parties have agreed on together. if you look at a olaf scholz that you just mentioned in your lead—in, he said this is a big disappointment for his party. still, they look likely to go into negotiations in the coming as77 7 77 as for 7 77 as for friedrich 77

as for friedrich merz, 77 weeks. as for friedrich merz, of course, he was victorious tonight saying his party had the biggest share of the vote which true, share of the vote which was true, bit less than they had been hoping but regardless, now he for but regardless, certainly now he had the mandate to build the had the mandate'to'build the a very interesting this government. a very interesting this and that political round, he about foreign 7 about foreign policy, 7 about foreign policy, he 7 about foreign policy, he said talked about foreign policy, he said what he is seeing in the us he that what he is seeing in the us he has no illusions about and the has no illusions about and that the interference of the us, speaking jd vance's 77 jd vance's speech 77 jd vance's speech at 77 jd vance's speech at the 77 aboutjd vance's speech at the munich security conference, munich security conferersse. , the afd, for example, or supporting the afd, for example, or elon musk hosting an event with the afd, that that was as brazen as the z— of interference that coming type of interference that was coming from moscow. so, strong from moscow. so, very strong words on the relationship with the us. —= = to hear that now from interesting to hear that now from who is likely to be the next 7you have been speaking chancellor. you have been speaking voters out there. what has been to voters out there. what has been the mood? this was hardly a big surprise, was it? it wasn't. a lot of anxiety nervousness from of anxiety and nervousness from we spoke to. you have to look -=——= the fact 7the7fact7that7 77

7the7fact7thatth7e7 77 the fact that the turnout was at the fact that the turnout was actually 83% which is a actually around 83% which is a rise on the last significant rise on the last election. voters were really motivated to go to the polls in the a nd voters we and77 voters we talked selection and the voters we talked to said very clearly the that to said very clearly the issues that for them were migration, dominated for them—were migration. curbing illegal migration into so curbing illegal migration into germany. this has been especially a here since we saw a string of topic here since we saw a string of in a number of german cities attacks in a number of german cities that have really the country. that have really shaken the country. and the economy. you really so and the economy. you really see so many voters here talking about the high energy costs since russia high energy costs'since'russie its war on ukraine and launched its war on ukraine and russia turned off the oil and gas and the fact inflation has hit the ha rd hard as well. we spoke to economy hard as well. we spoke to some people also about why they voted for the they did. take voted for the parties they did. take a listen. �* ,, �* voted for the parties they did. take a listen-_ my i the a listen. 15555555554 - the md. - a listen. 15555555555! - the afd, the - a listen. 15555555555] - the afd, the party] a listen. 15555555555— . the afd, the party represents interest, the -a is there for my interest, the barty is there for people. pg! interest, the party is there for people. i 515.7" �* sl—�*—'s-e—!s7—————lifi—j~ --eole. ., mi �* �* '7777t-::u.——7— 5 ”5954—5 neale, ., ., m7i �* �* 't7777t7::!!7——7— 5 ”5954—5 neale, ., ., 515.7" �* vll�*—'s-:lli—7—————lifi—j~ --eole. ., ., ,, , --eole. ., ., ,, voteile. ., ., ,, vote is. ., ., ,, 515.7i�* �* vll�*js-lllflf—l—l—i—ifi—l— vote is -- ., ., ,, pg 7 7 .th 7 ivote is -- hope is mg g 7 .th 7 i vote is -- hope is that pg! interest, the party is there for vote is —— hope is that we and immi-ration e

immi-ration m the immigration that is a big problem _ the immigration that is a big problem for germany, which people come _ problem for germany, which people come in _ problem for germany, which people come in have go come in and which people have to go i come in and which people have to go out. i hope they change good things for and out. i hope they change good things for- and kids- _ out. i hope they change good things for - and kids. i _ out. i hope they change good things for - and kids. i hope - out. i hope they change good things for - and kids. i hope they i —:7 = _7 for example wih support families, for example wit and support families, for example witi-r - and something. i hope - support families, for example witi-r - and something. i hope we i support families, for example wit - and something. hope we have money and something. i hope we have a strong _ money and something. i hope we have a strong europo — money and something. i hope we have a strong europo i— money and something. i hope we have a strong europe. i would _ money and something. i hope we have a strong europe. i would like - money and something. i hope we have a strong europe. i would like to- a strong europe. i would like to a strong europe. i would like to - a strong _ a strong europe. i would like to - a strong - union. | a strong europe. i would like to| - a strong - union. i 77 people 77 77 770pe77elal777 77 77 7e7p777elal777 77777going that many people realise that going to the is right answer to the right is not the right answer that many switched their and that many people switched their votes far left i fear votes'farrrnore'teft'because i fear the is going to be a that the election is going to be a blow out for the cdu or total blow out for the cdu or the md total blow out for the cdu or the afd and ijust hope that the lllllll..- 7 77 7i77>f7this777 changes, direction of this country changes, that we all vote to more left and learn love people more and hope learn to love people more and hope to be more active for the other

in our communities. in ourcommunities. ., people in our communities. so, a ranue people in our communities. so, a ranae of people in our communities. so, a range of voices — people in our communities. so, a range of voices there, _ people in our communities. so, a range of voices there, the - range of voices there, the really interesting factor of this election is you have seen the vote, is you have seen the youth'vote. �* 25, is you have seen the youth'vote. �*25, you go for either the far those voters go for either the far left or the far right. so, young voters moving to the fringes of the spectrum in germany and political spectrum in germany and from the elite away from the established elite parties in the centre. that is a parties—in the centre. that is a significant trend really significant trend and as we see friedrich merz, certainly as we see friedrich merz, of the democrats, trying form a coalition government, to form a coalition government, he will to address. something he will have to address. of course, not on migration, of course, not only on migration, the economy, the war in ukraine, and relations with the us but also bringing more people on board he, they7look 7 they7look t77othe they7look to the next elections. thank you so much to sumi somaskanda in for more now, with me is deutsche welle us correspondent benjamin alvarez gruber. welcome. it looks like

merz is all but set to become the a . 717,f7 - of germany but 7 77 7 7 of7g7erma7nybu7tthe7 77 777 7 7 btééihfiéfihfitthesig 777 7 7 7is7>fg7erma7nybu7tthe7big 777 7 7 7iswho7 gnsnfihhghg 777 7 7 7iswho7 h7e7a7nybu7tthe7bi7g 777 7 7 7iswho7 h7e7mi7ght7tthe7bi7g 777 7 7 7iswho7 h7e7mi7ght7g7ove7rn7; question is who he might govern with. ., �* , question is who he might govern with. . �* , ., 5.5524.“ 5.55295 would prefer if it was just one coalition partner but he will need would prefer if it was just one co leasti partner but he will need would prefer if it was just one co least 316 �*tner but he will need would prefer if it was just one co least 316 outr but he will need would prefer if it was just one co least 316 out of ut he will need would prefer if it was just one co least 316 out of the e will need would prefer if it was just one co least 316 out of the 630l need would prefer if it was just one co least 316 out of the 630 seats in at least 316 out of the 63!) seats in. bundestag. there is a 5% 7 meanin- that if a meaning that if a party threshold meaning that if a party doesn't reach 5% they will not be gggegsrttxeach 5% they will not be to get into the bundestag. that be v7ery 7 be v7ery important 7 be v7ery important for 7 be v7ery important for the7fdp, will be very important for the fdp, the liberals, that were part of will be very important for the fdp, the liberal! coalition re part of will be very important for the fdp, the liberal! coalition thattrt of will be very important for the fdp, the liberal! coalition that led if will be very important for the fdp, the liberal! coalition that led to three party coalition that led to the snap election because if they make ll.9% they will not be part of bundestag 7 bundestag this there was the bundestac this. tone thee gr ——— ~~ , , this the bundestac this tone thee as ,,, ~~ , , this discussion that also colleague sumi somaskanda mentioned in berlin with all of the party leaders because now the 55555 55 i will sta rt 75 . . a negotiations will start and friedrich merz who is set to of germany, says 727 he hopes that this will that he hopes that this will conclude as soon as for to take a leading role also germany to take a leading role also when it comes to russia's war in ukraine, to have these ukraine, said to have these conversations quicklyas

conversations as quickly as possible. conversations as quickly as possible-— conversations as quickly as ossible. g , ., ., possible. just building on that, what happens _ possible. just building on that, what happens i there - possible. just building on that, what happens i there i no - what happens if there is no coalition deal? he what happens if there is no coalition deal?— what happens if there is no coalition deal? . , ., ., coautiondeall... 5... course, coalitiondeall..- ..... course, he will talk to all the of course, he will talk to all the different parties, not talking to the far right afd, alice weidel was thgegfar right afd. alice weidel was there present, saying that she also there present, saying that she is out the hand, offering something, 7 something, but 7 something, but he 7 something, but he said 7 something, but he said he 7 them something, but he said he wouldn't go with the wouldn't go into coalition with the far right as all the other parties 55 i“ 55 5" “5 “l5 :5�*5�* 5” . 5 5 5 . 7stated, it 55" "l" 55 5" the “l5" 5555’55’ 5" ' 5 5 5 ' stated, it is 55 i“ 55 5" “55 “l5 25�*55 5' . 5 5 5 5 7stated, it is called the have stated, it is called the firewall, "is? 55 vice ii’ iti n l ch v f ewa a" q5 so .eti�*f j .i .g g sh on: firewall, somethingthat vice jd vance criticised in presidentjd vance criticised in his speech at the munich security gsgegegchgatgbe.munich security saying gsggeghgatgbe.munich security saying it not speegtgatghelvlunich security saying it not time for conference saying it is not time for firewalls. there will now be the to talk to all of the different time to talk to all of the different parties to see what the greens what the social are see what the social democrats are saying, and then try to form this government. saying, and then try to form this government-— saying, and then try to form this covernment. . ~ ., ., ., government. 5555—255 far ri . ht afd government. 5555—255 far riaht afd -a em the far right afd party because they are now going to be the main étéfibwgoing to be the main the etenowgoing to be the main the main étéfibwgoing to be the main the main opposition. is the significance of that? we what is the significance of that? we know elon has been know elon musk has certainly been their �* in the its, their cheerleader in the states. strong �*he's been z: lots of in the 7155.55 in has -... .g°.f... .. . .-.. 77o7f7d7ays.7he777 77o7f7days7.7he7h7ad 7 7 77 77o7f7days7.7he7h7ad 57 77

77o7f7days7.7he7h7ad 5715597777 7 7 77 77o7f7d7ays.7he 7th 51555ng couple of days. he had a long talk with alice weidel. only one or two ago he posted a quote of one of days ago he posted a quote of one of the more radical people within the party who can lead believe be called party who can lead believerbe called fascist according to a german a fascist according to a german court order —— be called a court order —— legally be called a fascist. he posted that and i covered the far right afd before "5555 the 555 risht 55“ “55555 55 5 55 5 the us the us7 it the us7 it shows, and moving to the us and it shows, and also think the one of the also i think the one of the results now is how strong their work is with young doing their work, sumi also mentioned 7 7 7 also mentioned with the somaskanda also mentioned with the afd on the left party, how strong are on tik the afd is 7 on tiktok, really really strong on tiktok, really strong in the eastern states of —— tiktok. and another new party that was kind of a link of the left party moored , moored. but the md is nnoeed, but the md is realli;r and moved, but the afd is really strong there. main topics, economy, and moved, but the afd is really strong ti migration, opics, economy, and moved, but the afd is really strong ti migration, saying economy, and moved, but the afd is really strong ti migration, saying thatomy, and moved, but the afd is really strong ti migration, saying that a ny, needs to7 7 r71eeds to7be 7 7 r71eeds to7be done 7 7 r71eeds to7be done there. many frederic 7 frederic merz 7 frederic merz for 7 the ederic merz for 7 the programme for the programme of�* the programme of the afd and copying the programme of the afd and also what alice weidel said,

copied 7 copied our programme and you not be able to actually pass will not be able to actually pass programme if you have a tgigligsg programme if you have a with the or -=—e the democrats. 7 the democrats. l 7 m democrats. ., with the social democrats. i thought the oint with the social democrats. i thought the point you — with the social democrats. i thought the point you made _ with the social democrats. i thought the point you made about _ with the social democrats. i thought the point you made about the - with the social democrats. i thought the point you made about the afd i the point you made about the afd gaining lots of traction with seegger' * interesting. and mentioned 7 7 mentioned 7 and then you mentioned immigration and then you mentioned immigration and the economy two key issues that the economy as two key issues that voters really about in this voters really cared about in this election. do you think the cdu election. how do you think the cdu plans to address those with policy? the big is the cdu will . t°7 to come 777777to7c7omee7ig7hth7777 77 7 to come eighth without manage to come eighth without moving too far the to the right, too far the programme to the right. more of the voters. trying to get more of the voters. alice weidel said the friedrich merz does not want to talk to me, may be other people in will. so does not want to talk to me, may be oth openeds in will. so does not want to talk to me, may be oth opened the will. so does not want to talk to me, may be oth opened the possibility iill. so does not want to talk to me, may be oth opened the possibility for so does not want to talk to me, may be oth opened the possibility for other gheggopened the possibility for other within the cdu to try to get people within the cdu to try to get into conversations with the afd, so they managed to put this topic they managed to put this key topic on the agenda, also always a lot of politicising some of the recently we had one that recently happened. we had one in munich, then also the christmas

in berlin. using saying 7 germany needs to 7th7eir that germany needs to secure their borders and also that to more. the 7 more. the question 7 more. the question is7how will do more. the guestion'is how will on one side to do this? you on one side manage to do this? there are also statistic because there are also statistic saying that a higher migration in because there are also statistic saying th has higher migration in because there are also statistic saying th has not ier migration in because there are also statistic saying th has not led nigration in because there are also statistic saying th has not led to jration in because there are also statistic saying th has not led to a |tion in because there are also statistic saying th has not led to a higher germany has not led to a higher crime rate. but they are using this germany has not led to a higher cri one ate. but they are using this germany has not led to a higher cri one of 9. but they are using this germany has not led to a higher cri one of their: they are using this germany has not led to a higher cri one of their main are using this germany has not led to a higher cri one of their main key using this germany has not led to a higher cri one of their main key points. iis 77 7 hinderinheiy 77 will definitely cont7inue they will definitely continue pressing for tighter reforms from the side the opposition as they the side of the opposition as they will be part of the german we have to leave it government. we have to leave it there. government. we have to leave it there- thank _ government. we have to leave it there. thank you _ government. we have to leave it there. thank you so _ government. we have to leave it there. thank you so much i government. we have to leave it i there. thank you so much i your there. thank you so much for your insight. was benjamin alvarez insight. that was benjaminélvarea there. among a flurry of calls to allies on sunday, both leaders are heading

to washington this week for separate talks with president trump. here's a look at where territorial gains currently stand. the regions in red — in ukraine's east — overnight, russia launched its largest drone attack yet, the capital kyiv. from there, the bbc�*s ukraine correspondent james waterhouse sent this report. in washington. one night. most were shot down but some always breaking zaporizhzhia. this attack preceded a wartime fixture in the capital, president zelensky�*s anniversary press conference.

trump siding with moscow and claiming that he lacks legitimacy without an election. give up my post, i'm ready. i can trade it for a nato if there are such conditions. i am focused on ukraine's security today, not in 20 years. could in the future. translation: when the us sells weapons to _ israel, qatar, saudi arabia, the uae, do they earn 100% generations of ukrainians. that was the most relaxed we have seen president zelensky in this

anniversary press conference. clearly he and donald trump have a relationship that is far from ideal. he didn't think was in the interests of ukraine. and that would have profound consequences for the course of this war. honouring fallen soldiers on defenders' day. in ukraine. his new relationship with washington at the moment, any peace deal looks set to favour him and not kyiv. of an invasion of russia hoped would last three days, there have been demonstrations across europe, from prague to paris. security in a post—war

europe without america. adversary russia. president trump's approach to resolving the conflict. i think that president trump believes, and i because he 7.— 7it, trust building believes it, that trust building with good, proper begins with good, proper communication we had a discussion, and president great discussion, me and president putin. and now it will be up to putin. and now it will be up to putin president trump work something out. and i think to work something out. and i think they are going be successful. under president clinton. unde start rident clinton. unde start with : clinton. unde start with what on. unde start with what you feel is the us cosmic approach to ukraine? we heard 1540

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