From the Center for European Reform, this is the CEO podcast.

Poson us seriously the question of the

future that we want, and we all

all together, the courage to it construct.

For us in Germany, is the

Bekindness to the European Europe,

a part of our state's resolve.

A strong united Europe is a necessity for the world,

because an integrated Europe remains vital to our

international order. This is the moment for Europe world because an integrated Europe remains vital to our international order.

This is the moment for Europe to lead the way towards a new vitality.

Hello and welcome to this new episode of the CR podcast. My name is Christian Runda. I'm dialing in from Berlin.

And today we want to take a look at Germany. As you all know, Germany will go to the polls in September of this year.

Angela Merkel's 16-year-long reign is coming to a close.

And that also matters for Europe, of course, because she was the preeminent European leader.

And her party, for better or worse, was the pivotal player in many policy fields from the

euro to the refugee crisis.

And this last weekend, the city who chose Amin Lashett as Merkel's successor to lead the party,

he's thus in the poll position to become the next chancellor.

But the coronation of Merkel's successor also revealed that the party remained split

between those who support Merkel and Lachet and those who favor a return

to the old days of conservative politics when there was a clearer distinction between the

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