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Can Germany reform its way out of the rise of the far right AfD?

Michaela Kuefner
March 27, 2026

Germany’s governing parties in Chancellor Merz’s coalition have just faced a moment of truth. The need for drastic reforms is hitting home in the Social Democratic Party (SPD), which suffered another electoral blow this week. Host Michaela Küfner discusses with DW’s Max Hofmann, Matthew Moore, and expert Marcel Fratzscher the current economic struggles the governing parties are facing.

https://p.dw.com/p/5BDoy

00:00 Intro

01:55 German Depression

04:00 Social Democrat blues

06:35 A new Reform Agenda?

09:21 Who wants sacrifices?

11:03 AfD double results

12:51 Moral Economy breakdown

15:07 AfD voters’ fears

16:51 AfD = libertarian?

20:01 Agenda 2010 reloaded?

21:18 Plugging budget holes

23:49 Could political heads roll?

26:01 Germany’s most popular politician

28:12 Getting rid of red lines

30:51 The three big reforms

32:06 End

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