After the SPD’s electoral crisis in Rhineland-Palatinate, the coalition has its back to the wall. Friedrich Merz, Bärbel Bas and Lars Klingbeil have agreed to rush forward: the path of painful evolution. Gordon Repinski presents POLITICO’s unofficial “inspiration paper” with big recommendations for Germany — from pension realism to real tax reform to a bold merger of ministries. Are the Black and Red prepared to demand a genuine compromise from their own officials and voters?
As the Social Democrats continue to falter, the SPD’s leading candidate Armin Willingmann in Saxony-Anhalt is looking forward to a high-profile upcoming election. In the 200-second interview, he talks about the “conditionally beneficial” performance from Berlin, why he now considers joining the party leadership unproductive and how he wants to bring workers back to the center’s policy.
The next stage of the crisis is hot for the Liberals: After disappearing in the south-west elections, the entire party leadership will be re-elected in May. Rixa Fürsen analyzes the labor vacuum: Can Christian Dürr keep his job or is it now the turn of Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann and NRW state head Henning Höne?
The Berlin Playbook is available as a podcast every morning starting at 5 a.m. Gordon Repinski and the POLITICO team provide listening politics – together, globally, in depth. For all professionals of the capital: Berlin Playbook magazine provides the most important topics and classifications every morning. Sign up now for free.
More from POLITICO host and Executive Editor Gordon Repinski: Instagram: @gordon.repinski | X: @GordonRepinski.
POLITICO Deutschland – an offer from Axel Springer Deutschland GmbH
Axel-Springer-Straße 65, 10888 Berlin
Phone: +49 (30) 2591 0
.(email protected).
Seat: District Court Berlin-Charlottenburg, HRB 196159 B
USt-IdNr: DE 214 852 390
Managing Directors: Carolin Hulshoff Pol, Mathias Sanchez Luna
**(Ad) Message from PKV: Did you think so? Out of 15.5 billion euros annually in additional sales of privately insured people, the entire health care system benefits. In addition to doctors and general practitioners, higher fees also benefit dental practices, the pharmaceutical industry and medical professionals. In this way, the PKV supports medical care in Germany for the benefit of everyone – including those with statutory health insurance. More on pkv.de**
