Germany at a crossroads: football, political frustration and the far right

For Germany, football is often a reflection of the nations’ stability.

“When Germany is going well, things are going well on the pitch” Irish Times Berlin correspondent Derek Scally tells the Inside Politics podcast.

Following another premature exit from a world cup tournament they won only 12 years ago; in football, as in German politics, the future is uncertain.

Host Hugh Linehan asks where the major fault lines are in the upcoming federal elections in September. Elections, Scally explains, that are likely to be won by the far-right party Alternative for Deutschland (AfD) bar any major shifts.

“Establishment parties are seen as lacking ideas and energy” Scally says. “The sense of a government exhausting its political potential seems to be a general agreement around Berlin”.

Europe’s biggest economy is vulnerable on a number of fronts. It relies on Chinese manufacturing for its automotive sector, while facing major competition from increasingly popular, often cheaper, Chinese car makers.

Though the Christian Democrats’ Fredrick Merz has only been Chancellor for a year, “frustration” and “fatigue” are already creeping into public sentiment, Scally says.

Could his 34-point plan announced last week, including pension reforms, tax cuts, and business deregulation, turn things around?

Produced by Andrew McNair

Would you like to receive daily insights into world events delivered to your inbox? Sign up for Denis Staunton's Global Briefing newsletter here: irishtimes.com/newsletters/global-briefing/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Det här avsnittet är hämtat från ett öppet RSS-flöde och publiceras inte av Podme. Det kan innehålla reklam.

Avsnitt(1043)

Nigel Farage resigns triggering by-election

British MP Nigel Farage has resigned as an MP triggering a by-election in the constituency of Clacton-on-Sea which he says he will stand in.It comes amid a row over his financial support, after The Su...

7 Juli 15min

Aughinish Alumina is proving to be a real diplomatic headache

Pat Leahy and Jack Horgan-Jones join Hugh Linehan to look back on the week in politics:· Ireland’s presidency of the Council of the European Union got off to a slightly awkward start at the open...

3 Juli 1h 1min

How the duplicitous double life of Jeffrey Donaldson threatens the future of unionism

Hugh Linehan is joined by Alex Kane to discuss the double life of disgraced politician Jeffrey Donaldosn and its broader impact on the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) as well as Ulster unionism overal...

1 Juli 38min

Pat Rabbitte: 'you’re not going to get a broad left alliance'

Last week Pat Leahy sat down with former Labour leader Pat Rabbitte for an interview about his life in politics. Rabbitte is now retired but for decades he was one of the most recognisable faces and v...

29 Juni 58min

The triple lock is the latest issue for Fianna Fáil’s awkward squad

Harry McGee and Cormac McQuinn join Pat Leahy to look back on the week in politics: All anyone can talk about this week is the weather. While the country enjoys the warmth, the Government still has to...

26 Juni 41min

How will Ireland navigate the EU presidency?

Next week Ireland takes over the presidency of the EU Council. But what does that mean? What exactly is the EU Council anyway? How does this council and this presidency fit in among the numerous other...

24 Juni 48min

Ireland gears up for EU presidency and Andy Burnham sweeps Makerfield byelection

Jack Horgan-Jones and Mark Paul join Harry McGee to look back on the week in politics:· Taoiseach Micheál Martin is in Brussels for the EU summit this week, also in attendance is Ukrainian presi...

19 Juni 46min