Left, right and centre: Germany’s election

This podcast episode from The Economist covers the aftermath of the German elections, focusing on the CDU/CSU victory and the implications for the country's future. The episode analyzes the election results, highlighting the surprising success of the AfD and the poor performance of the Social Democrats. It then discusses the challenges facing the incoming Chancellor, Friedrich Merz, including Germany's struggling economy, immigration policies, and the need to reform the debt brake. Finally, the podcast examines the implications of Merz's comments about potential European defense independence from the US, particularly in light of the ongoing war in Ukraine. A key takeaway is that European countries, particularly those closer to Russia, have provided more aid to Ukraine than the US, contradicting claims made by Donald Trump.