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In today’s episode, two influential members of the CDU, Ursula von der Leyen and Friedrich Merz, meet for a breakfast meeting instead of the initially planned Sunday dinner. They have quite divergent views on several issues, which is why they must find a common ground. Gordon Repinski analyzes their dynamics.

Matthias Miersch, the new SPD Secretary-General, is the special guest for today’s 200-second interview. He gives his first podcast interview on the POLITICO Berlin Playbook, focusing on the strategic guidelines for the 2025 election campaign. The SPD established these during their board retreat over the weekend, intending to primarily target the Union.

Hans von der Burchard, an expert on European affairs, reports on the West Balkan Summit held in Berlin today. He explains the slow progress in the accession negotiations between the EU and nations like Serbia, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Albania, Kosovo, and North Macedonia.

Additionally, discover how Rolf Mützenich, the SPD parliamentary group’s faction leader, attempted to avoid unrest within the SPD parliamentary group but ended up causing it. The Berlin Playbook podcast is available every morning at 5 am, providing you with the latest political updates — concise, European, and insightful.

For those who are professionals in the capital, our Berlin Playbook Newsletter delivers the most important topics and interpretations every morning. To stay updated and subscribe to the free Playbook, click here.

To get more from Gordon Repinski, Berlin Playbook host and editor-in-chief of POLITICO in Germany, follow him on Instagram: @gordon.repinski and on X: @GordonRepinski.