ah, with me, i am on welcome to wells fargo like her trademark jackets, and mark of political style came in one shape and size, but all colors of the rainbow, measures, and at times, even dull she nonetheless managed to steer germany and europe for many upheavals. can be shocking life volition now wish to replace her. do the same without running into the rad, at every corner. well, to discuss that i'm now joined by venice pencils, professor emeritus of comparative government as. d dressed in technical university professor, it's great to talk to you. thank you very much for your time. it's

a pleasure to talk with you. now. the last elections in germany produced a rather paradoxical results. and i think historically lowest showing what angle america, christian democrats and some of the best results for her rivals. both the social democrats. d and big beans as far as you are concerned, is that more about the teeth or the excitement or her opponents or her successors in this case? well, actually, what we have seen is that the vote for the city, you have not been vote for this party. they have been vote for angela america, and the policy angle america has conducted throughout many years was up policies. well, come for the social democrats and for the green voters. here for what we have seen is that many of people who formerly voted for glenda wins im also top candidate also christian demo credit union now did not load for the christian democratic

copied, but for the social democratic and green original. this is what we have seen and osho, it's has a promise to continue the policy line of anglo america and say a fool. he has won by a narrow margin, but he is one. and he said you without merkel. his last. mario argued that they and our farm are close time and power is good for a german democracy because she's been such a stable force for so long that she essentially became her party. and i was wondering if you are any concerned that this period of adjustment of a new government coming at such a turbulent moment in global history when even the established experienced leader is struggling to deal to so many issues simultaneously. and you can sign that these particular time, it may be stabilized germany. well, as things are chimneys,

quite strong and stable, therefore, even in these times right now, the changing government will not do very much harm for german stability. the basic issue is that the program office, new government is full with political visions, wishes for transformation, hopes and so on. and it will crush down on to reality. and houses crash will feel for the government. and in particular, was a green partisan social democratic party. this is a open question, so my best guess would be either this new government of us 2 years or 2 legislative terms, of se a fascinating issue right now, because we are at the beginning of something you. but nobody knows whether the good intentions of the new government will work out in reality. just as reality really is. well, i hope we can discuss those issues in detail, but before we move there, let's talk about the, you know, the question of how long is too long?

because, i mean, for russia, it is a very pressing an issue. and i think to some extent, we are dealing with a similar dynamic as inappropriate as this comparison may seem to the johns are here in russia. we also have ass staple, fairly popular, very experienced leader who are yeah, not or does not want to leave power. * out of this year that if he does it, the system might run and mark, now i understand that the german system is indeed a fall last concentrated that the russian one. but on this issue of how long is too long a. when is that the right time for strong leader to leave a voice regression? what are your thoughts? my basic argument is that it is among the responsibilities of a political leader to find successes for him, for her, and to open up political space for new lead us to emergent to process our

really lead us and seen from this angle 16 years without making clear who might be my successor is too long. the inter party discussions in the christian democratic union have been stopped for many years because the only question the party was able and willing to discuss laws are in favor of myrtle or are you against the merciless policies politics. and therefore, there was no substantial discussion for many years. this is why i would claim 16 years is a bit too long. maybe we should turn introducing germany term limits for a federal chancellor. say something like 2 legislative terms. then the next generation can grow up. and then innovation can take place in the political system, johnston you correctly not as much as you believe in democracy. you still believe that this section of the succession should be in a way managed and chaperone by a strong leader. well, at least in the ranks of the own party, a strong leader has

a responsibility to open up ways for the next generation. because otherwise, you are in the midst of problems of who might be the next possible leader. look at a german christian democratic union. this part there right now does not know where to go with whom to go. although during the last year there were 3 times elections for a new pa to leader. and this is one of the legacies off too long. a chancellor ship like a lot of angle american. not maybe i'm really the speaker too much, but one of the words that most often comes up for me in describing the detail on of the political discourse in germany is outraged and it's usually be green. why was reaction is described in this overly emotional trends? is that just a journalistic exaggeration or has be, instead of the emotional temperature of german political discourse indeed increased?

yes, his temperature has increased. there isn't chris sensor, mid twenties, or women, the picket a movement came up. lindsey a f t, a feel to political space, left or open by you see view when those who are not right, just a joint in a unitary front against a right wing. when struggling against the writing became the central emission of many german politicians. he has a political discussions, became quite heated. many topics became a somehow toxic. you could not raise certain questions, not promot certain arguments. and this is this high temperature that we have in germany. and actually, it is very much due to the green political style that his temperature has gone up because they have always taken their emotional political positions. the next catastrophe of 54 years ahead. in former times it was

a new nuclear war. then it was a dying out of german forest and now it is climate change and to the human race will disappear due to increased temperatures. so apparently the green party cannot live without the catastrophic, in which the green party is called to save human kind from these problems in the book i've seen you said just before that perhaps because of this tendency to catastrophe size, it is much easier in germany to be a popular green or a social democrat politician than a conservative or a christian democrat, one. in fact, i think you know that the word conservative is now associated to something rational rate. but it's one thing to buy for power. and another thing to be in power which is inherently conservative undertaking. do you think this new government will be able to keep this progressive shine, this progressiveness edge once they get down to the treaty,

mundane and boring and tedious business of governance? well, this is the open question. this will be a source of much wonderful political analyzing of what is going on. there is a gap between positions and the hopes of this new government. the difference between what is written down in the coalition agreement and how reality looks like . and usually less partis try to move on in a visionary of a move on when they are convinced it needs to be a big concern formation of a society. and then the problems are within the governing left. this part is already now the social democratic change located that future chance less. problems with the youth organization of the social democratic party of the youth organization of the green party was claiming that to this coalition contract, i would not have enough of agreeing policies. these will be the attention to we

will see. i'm convinced of the government seriously will try to initiate all this information so promising the coalition contract between 2 because a german politics do not think that government should simply administer what they are should not simply conserve a piece of what is there that is. so should change the country for the best professor at, you know, effective governance or even preserving what you have is challenging enough when times are good. that's when the government, a new government and complicated lee and 2 together, government has to deal with so many issues in a global pandemic at risk. alpha additional log down disruptions as the blind production team. repetitive migration prices, the possibility of the military confrontation in the middle of europe, the changing world. what on earth, what have you, you know, with looking at all this, all the,

all that they have on that plate from began to go. what do you think will be that operational priorities? not the ideological and rhetorical ones, but what are some of the issues that they absolutely cannot afford to ignore? well, they can't afford to ignore the precarious situation of energy, of our energy supply to conic north, the collateral damages offer repeated migration vase and so on. see, the biggest challenge for the new government is that those who are in the government and support it needs to have a very steep curve of learning. because really, it looks different from how the perceived it look at our future. for a minister on the lena bear book in her mindset exists differently. a quite different world from the virgin really exists. i would like to be present when she, for the 1st time, has a talk with the russian for a minister over for,

for the 1st time. just to go to the, to the ministers council aussie of nato because they are, she will be confronted with a vote, which she does not believe to exist. and therefore, a steep learning curve is required and may be the members of the government will have steeper coast than the followers in the parliament. quite to be silent on the photos in the political parties differ or not, of disappointment will come up your in. so next week's was the government tries to learn how politics and world politics really work. now i think you would probably agree with me that actually marco, i know that you have been critical of some of her policies, but institutionally it is she have a tighter reap on power. i'm not saying that she wasn't nasir profits for ability to enforce her decisions. to sell them to the public, much greater, she was also a very experienced politician looking at this new coalition, the personality,

political agendas that they represent on how easy or how challenging do you think it's gonna be a for them internally to agree on the she's let alone selling them to the people. so this will be quite difficult because there are a lot of political projects from the collision contract for which no finances are available. this is like a setting up a list of desires. then going to the shop and finding out that you don't have the necessary money on your bank account. so this will be the problem. as the liberals have made clear that there should be no raises in texas. so therefore, they have to do with the money which comes in. we are as a beginning, as many people feel of an economic crisis due to the pandemic you to the inflation in the euro zone and so on. so they will run out of money. therefore, they will make hot will have to make hard decisions, which are the projects which are really necessary,

which are projects out of alex here, a situation which now is no longer given. so this will be a kind of problems. and this will require all capacities of political leadership or le sholtes seems to have well progress. it seems that angle america was very strategic for access time and mission video. we need to take a short break right now, but we will be back in just a few moments station. ah, how. what we've got to do is identify the threats that we have. it's crazy confrontation, let it be an arms. race is often very dramatic. development only personally,

i'm going to resist. i don't see how that strategy will be successful, very critical. i'm time to sit down and talk with . mm hm. welcome back to wells, your partner, no pets. also, professor emeritus of comparative government as adjust them technical university professor. but before the break, we touched on germany, john's internal politics. let's talk about foreign policy on the and that america and on there for many predecessors was primarily the counselors to me. do you think

it's likely to stay the case under the new government under the new chancellor and under the u foreign minister, whom you already mentioned as somebody who has a very peculiar vision of reality and yes, very determined to see them in the real world. well, during the last 2025 city, yes, the federal chancellor took more and more assumed. lauren ball responsibility for foreign affairs. this was usually growing during his time in office because san domestic politics important if they are become more boring if they have begin at the beginning. if they have been at the beginning of a chancellor ship and chancellors become acquainted with the top leaders around the vote and therefore they feel a certain obligation to deal with them. so this certainly will happen in this new government as well. all of shows will have to do a lot of things to do in domestic politics, to make sure that his power base in this difficult situation. and an alina burbock,

wants to show that she is really a competent foreign policy person. and therefore, she needs some free space as i'm maneuvering space to show her qualities or to acquire qualities. but in the course of time, the usual pattern will come in because it, due to germany, delicate type of foreign policy situation. it is really a top position in government where the ultimate responsibility needs to be. now you mentioned the issue of competency and it could be interpreted in many different ways. it could be interpreted as a practical ability to get resolved even an unpleasant difficulties off, or it could be interpreted more in an american a way of standing shock waves through the, you know, media error rates. why? what do, what do you? thing is the german interpretation of what a competent foreign minister or a competent leader can achieve. well and said,

then i have to say that this, then the criteria and germany for many years has been compatibility with public opinion. those politicians pause as competent who act in line with what the people expect from them, but a public opinion is produced or shaped by it miss media. those are shaped by journalists, most german journalists are sympathizers of the social democrats and of the green. therefore, as long as of course you green and social democrat policy projects, you pass as a competent leader. if you don't do so, you pass as somebody like a conservative for reactionary. somebody who is not able to do his job. and therefore, what we will certainly experience is that mess media will try to find everything. what is plausible and laudable in the political activities and statements by melina bear book. and that wouldn't be hesitant to discuss some collateral damages. and

only if too much damage is done, there will be criticism raised against our new foreign policy. foreign policy for foreign minister. and this is sad because usually there are certain standards in particular for foreign policy. foreign policy is something so complicated security politics, global dynamics, ends on us as a brightest spirits of a country, should deal with these things. and those are due for practical politics. should be able to communicate with them so far. and alina, their book, in her poverty, korea has not shown that this would be really a top interest. now, we hope that she uses so chance her job is offering to her, because she can get at rise of the best possible experts in germany. so let's see whether she has a steep or a flat learning curve. well, i think we have to, i have to admit, and there is a sitting termination i with regards to angelina barbara here in austin on because people are here for changing position. but i think that because many officials here

in moscow believe that there is already a headache in the world, she did as a edition. now, having said that, one of the, one of the things that i often hear from the russian officials an analyst is that german font is more than any other national politics. and he is constrained by a certain fixed imperative, which makes it more, alas, consistent and stable both internally and in its relations with the east and the west on the recent history seems to support that. for example, you know? yeah, for sure. they're an ongoing america who are very different idea logically when they came to power. the chancellor ship of us you're the result is in the construction of a stream one pipeline. * and the chancellor ship of america culminated in the construction of the north stream to pipeline. how much do personalities really matter when it comes to germans foreign policy and particularly german relationship

with russian? i would say i'm the luma circumstances. the personalities do not matter so much, because as one might say, nations have interests and this interests are independent of the personalities who are in charge of running foreign policy. but there should be edit the those responsive lou should know about national interests. they should have a clear vision of what the national interest is and via visit the interest or not another one. and here you can have doubts in times of crisis. in times of big changes, good personal relationships are of utmost importance. sink back to the process of chem, reunification without so good relationships of chancellor cool with global chief or with the american president or with the french president that would have been note reunification and see if or it does the meta with us. those people in charge are able to establish and maintain good personal relationships. and if historical vis

them knowledge about national interests and the ability or for socializing with others of easy going relationships, come together. then we're in the best of all possible verse, but it out that now we are in the best of all possible votes i in didn't know us, it's you project and i know that you aren't before that miracle treatment of this project as a purely economic one. damn at germany's relations and it's a european partners. do you think the new government is likely to revisit or even change the policy on this issue? well, you know, our new government is hearing a threat. we try to get rid of nuclear energy. we try to get rid of fossil energy, so that is of, of colin's arm. and therefore we have a gap in our energy supply is the same time we want more digitalization which needs

more energy, nevada hybrid economy. busy which needs more energy, we need the mobility which needs more electricity and see if or as the government says, that frankly, we simply are dependent on guess from russia. transported to germany, martin will stream to see a for although i think that this has been around strategic move, gymnast dependent on that germany, so to speak, trapped, and one of the interest in germany is trap. but reality imposes certain limits on the imagination doesn't. well, let's agree to disagree of this point, but what would this fascinating is to see how the german government will deal in this situation? on the one end, at least on alina ever, she has many concerns about the strategic, where rationality of motion to other, on the other hand, there is still the need of germany office energy,

and therefore they have some problems. and as an observer, i'm very happy to see a government acting in such are situations where until the greens and bank our way of viewing or warming of german who's with that on the moon, no energy they will have to rely on such a dish, no energy source and in addition to be there, just like of the russian gas, the new government is also unwelcoming. as you set up an energy which puts it and the longer has with france and major force to reckon with in this belt, which wants to see nuclear energy recognized as a sustainable and green energy source, which at least at the moment the greens are not really eager to do the german greens, i mean, do you see any possibilities for a compromise here? well, if you feel to be in tract, you're looking for an exit. and maybe this is the exit offered by the french

president. the greens have a problem with the followers and supporters. imagine the green leadership could say, well, we still think that atomic energy should not be used. nevertheless, you to our special relationships with france, you to the desires of our neighbors in the interest of a stable energy supply all throughout europe. for a certain period of time, we have to accept to move on with the use of nuclear energy. so my feeling is that this might be an exit strategy out of this energy game in which our new government will find itself due to policies which were strictly according to their own desires . now angela miracle seemed to have prioritized european cohesion about everything else. both mich markley and i have to say practically, and i had a sense that sometimes she put it even above the rain issues as painful as it may be to the german electorate. do you think in her absence that they'll still be

german? is raul? and if not, if my internal issues will be deemed or prioritized about the union issues, or what do you think it was me for the ears a whole? well, one of the things, one of the issues on which bruce really consensus in germany is the important asi european union as a framework in which germany can do for a foreign policy. so this pro, you course will certainly go on with the new government and her here angle america did not do her policies for technical reasons. she really was convinced this is part of our german consensus. however, we need to see that we are in the field of declining marginal use of certain politics. because one, if you want to have a strong europe, apparently says can be something like the united states of europe. it needs to be

a european union where the european nation states can preserve their own identity, can define own interest in particular domestic politics. and he angle america, as i share the opinion with many of the other observers, has, has gone too far as go to for c with do much attempts at, at having a joint migration policy in the european union model on the german bad example. as i would like to stress this has thrift has driven the united kingdom out of the you . and our insistence had only a german or german dominated vision of what a rule of law might mean. is now living, driving out poland and hungary, from the european union, or it is creating a feeling of alienation between central european states and germany. so there can be too much of europe. you can try to attempt to much and you lose your fellowship

in this is the danger in which angle america has guided our are of european policy . does he have behavior during the euro on prices with greece 1st, insisting then giving in. and so my feeling is that the germans will have to learn until the lead us will have to learn that even so we are pro you, we do not share the idea that it should be something like a central government in brussels and a weakening of national identities. well, mr. passel, do i have many more questions for you, but unfortunately our time is up. thank you very much for being with. was a pleasure talking with you and thank you for what you want to see again next week and well to part. ah. with

me oh, i do own drugs noted as a way to combat a gray problem. what's the war on drugs? it's part of the attitude of the nation, not just of north dakota, and it got to be something that you could get elected. this time the fight against drugs took her to try and shake. tom told us that andrew was a confidential informant and this is way too dangerous for him to be doing. clearly, they put him in harm's way. a rural college student does interest get shot in the head and found in a river like that. something else had to be happening. ah

give us give us a nightmare scenario of military comfort station has returned to you room that was at the stalk warning from russia's top diplomat just ahead of a meeting with his u. s. counterpart. i think that moscow would not tolerate the beefing up of nato's presence in neighboring states. asylum seekers may have to wait months that the e u bela bruce border to get processed if a new plan from brussels gets the go ahead. a rights group oxfam meantime told us the move alternately, throws away the rulebook. we could have managed this easily, but apparently the commission is not very interested in doing that. and on the, on the con, very, and hits 38 countries, the world health organization.