"Wir schaffen das"(We will succeed)," proclaimed the then German Chancellor Angela Merkel at the end of the summer of 2015, in the midst of the refugee crisis in Europe. Merkel's decision to open Germany's doors to refugees between 2015 and 2016 1.2 million refugees and asylum seekers, most of them Syrians, divided the country.

Renew or die. The cabaret Berlin politician renews his repertoire with the change of government in Germany and the arrival of the conservative Friedrich Merz to the chancelleryThe German dictionary Duden defines cabaret, a Germanized word originating from French cabaret, as "minor art in the form of sketches and songs that parodic and humorously criticize the political situation or current events."

During a television debate during the election campaign, outgoing German Chancellor Olaf Scholz was asked if he would board a plane piloted by the Conservative leader, Friedrich Merz"Yes," he replied without hesitation. "I suppose they justifiably gave him a pilot's license," the Social Democrat added. Merz, an amateur pilot, was also willing to give Scholz a ride on his private plane, although "it depends on where." "From Berlin to home, yes," said Merz, eager to replace him as chancellor.

During a television debate during the election campaign, outgoing German Chancellor Olaf Scholz was asked if he would board a plane piloted by the Conservative leader, Friedrich Merz"Yes," he replied without hesitation. "I suppose they justifiably gave him a pilot's license," the Social Democrat added. Merz, an amateur pilot, was also willing to give Scholz a ride on his private plane, although "it depends on where." "From Berlin to home, yes," said Merz, eager to replace him as chancellor.

Despite his unpopularity, outgoing German Chancellor Olaf Scholz was optimistic in the days before the election and did not throw in the towel. In 2021 He gave a surprise by winning the elections –the first since Angela Merkel's time in charge of the country– and he hoped to repeat the feat. Scholz was convinced that a victory was possible, although each poll that was published was a reality check. The results have shown that the polls were on the right track.

Germany, traditionally considered the economic powerhouse of the European Union, is heading into Sunday's election in a funk. Immigration (27%) and the economy (24%) are the issues that most concern Germans ahead of the election, according to a recent poll by public broadcaster ARD. One of the main challenges for the next German chancellor will be the recovery of Europe's largest economy. After two years of contraction. Germany's gross domestic product (GDP) fell by 0.3% in 2023 and 0.2% in 2024, and growth is expected to be marginal this year. The country had not seen two consecutive years of contraction for two decades, since Social Democrat Gerhard Schröder was chancellor. Germany was then considered "the sick man of Europe": in 2002 and 2003 the German economy fell by 0.2% and 0.5% respectively. This economic pessimism is palpable on the streets of the country. Germans notice it in their daily lives. Politics is suffering.

US Vice President JD Vance blew up relations between his country and Europe a week ago in Munich. "There is a new sheriff in the White House," he warned. In Germany, the election campaign continued and in a televised debate, conservative candidate Friedrich Merz reproached Olaf Scholz for not being the one to lead a European response. Once again, Macron reacted quickly, calling for a summit in Paris on Monday. The main European leaders showed unity in support of Ukraine around a round table. Scholz, seated to the right of the French president, once again played a secondary role, even though Germany is the European country that sends the most aid to Ukraine.

This Sunday, all of Europe will be watching what happens in Germany, because the result of the early federal elections will largely determine the continent's politics and the strength it can have to defend itself against Trump's offensive. In the dossier we analyse why the country is immersed in economic pessimism and concerned above all about the issue of immigration, which is what the extreme right has managed to put on the public agenda during the campaign. We speak with experts and also with people from various fields and professions, who explain their vision of Germany. We also interview Wolfgang Münchau, a journalist and economic expert who has just published 'Kaput. The end of the German miracle'. And, with some relation to the situation in Germany, we will also focus on Ukraine, since this Monday is the third anniversary of the start of the war.

It took longer than expected, but the worst fears about Donald Trump's position on Ukraine have finally come true. Analysts agree that the call the US president made to Vladimir Putin on Wednesday has completely reversed the policies that the allies had had until now and, consequently, has given the Russian leader the victory he had long hoped for. Trump bought his arguments, and even before sitting down at the negotiating table he had already announced that Ukraine would not join NATO and that the borders before 2014 would not return. To what extent Ukraine would be forced to cede territory is not clear, but experts are also clear that Russia will want to keep everything.