“We see that Trump is not entirely wrong with his ideas,” explains Wladimir Klitschko

After the election, Germany is facing difficult coalition talks, with a black-red alliance appearing most likely. On Maischberger, former party leaders Sigmar Gabriel (SPD) and Armin Laschet (CDU) exchanged blows. Wladimir Klitschko spoke favorably of the likely chancellor Friedrich Merz when the topic of discussion was the war in Ukraine. The political situation was also commented on by journalists Giovanni di Lorenzo (“Die Zeit”), Kerstin Palzer (ARD) and Christoph Schwennicke (“t-online”).

Sigmar Gabriel was ruthless in his criticism of his own party, the SPD: "There are a whole series of problems." The Social Democrats had made serious mistakes - starting with a fundamental misunderstanding of the welfare state. "It is actually a freedom project. You want to separate origin from future. It is not a welfare state project," said Gabriel. If it had only been about expanding social benefits, "then the SPD would have had a two-thirds majority."

He was particularly harsh in his attack on the party for its attitude to work. The SPD had given the impression that those who did not work or only worked occasionally were more important to it than those who went to work every day. "That is fatal for a social democratic party," he said. In addition, the SPD had failed to develop economic competence and made the wrong decisions in migration policy for fear of "being in the boat with the wrong people."

In the federal election, the majority of those under 25 voted for the AfD (21 percent) and the Left Party (27 percent) - ahead of all other parties. Laschet sees this as a worrying development: "The older people still represent the middle of society," he said. However, this is not very reassuring when the younger voters, "the future," mostly vote for the outer fringes. "But in four years, things could be different again if we learn from it," he said.

SPD politician Sigmar Gabriel defended the Left Party. The Left Party is no longer the successor organization to the SED from 20 years ago. The party advocates humanity. Therefore, he did not want to lump the Left Party together with the AfD, which he described as a "largely anti-constitutional party."

He did not want to defend the Left Party too much: "The lunatics from the Left ended up at the BSW." The pro-Putin faction went with Sahra Wagenknecht from the party. Laschet countered sharply: "The Left Party and its relationship to anti-Semitism and what we are experiencing here in Berlin is not clear." Therefore, the Left Party is not "saints" for him, and he wishes that fewer people would vote for the Left Party.

Laschet sees no alternative to the imminent formation of a black-red government under Friedrich Merz. "Now both know: we have to work with the other. There is no other alternative," said the CDU politician. According to Laschet, this means that both sides must moderate their rhetoric and live up to their responsibilities. He emphasized the opportunity for a joint effort to bring order to migration and strengthen the economy. He sees a natural overlap between the Union and the SPD, especially on issues of industry and jobs: "The SPD and the Union can actually unite on this."

On the subject of defense, Ukraine and the "imminent threat from Russia," Sigmar Gabriel called on the next Chancellor to restore relations with France and Poland. "We currently have no political center in Europe. The Commission cannot do that; it can only happen in the Council." He then said, indirectly criticizing the SPD: "I hope that the rest of the coalition will leave the Chancellor alone to fulfill this task and not bother him with every idiotic domestic political dispute."

Europe has a "huge task" ahead of it and cannot rely entirely on the USA, said Gabriel. "I hope that the federal government that is coming now is aware of this dramatic situation for Germany and Europe." There are more countries than Hungary that have a "deconstruction of the European Union in mind." The only ones who could oppose this are Germany, Poland and France. "If they don't stick together, it will be a dangerous game."

The war in Ukraine has now lasted three years. Since the Russian attack in February 2022, Wladimir Klitschko has been working as an international ambassador for his home country. The former world boxing champion is a reservist in the Ukrainian defense and called for more support from other states on Maischberger. "Europe is our home. Ukraine is part of Europe," emphasized Klitschko, whose brother Vitali is mayor of the capital Kiev. But Ukraine's position has hardly improved since the war began, explained Klitschko. Russian attacks occur every day, even at night.

Klitschko had surprisingly positive words for US President Donald Trump: "Trump also has something good in him. We see that he is not entirely wrong with his ideas." One point in particular cannot be ignored: "We Europeans should look after Europe." After the Second World War, it had already become clear that Europe had to ensure its own security in order to assert itself against the Soviet Union - a realization that the world had already drawn at that time. "Now we are only hearing from Trump what we heard many years ago."

Nevertheless, Klitschko also clearly criticized the US approach. Peace cannot be negotiated over the heads of Ukraine, the 48-year-old made clear. He was referring to the recent meeting between the US and Russia in Saudi Arabia, at which Ukraine was not represented. His country's priority is security, Klitschko stressed: "From the perspective of the free world, it is very important that the war ends as quickly as possible. But not at any price."

President Volodymyr Selenskyj is striving for Ukraine to join NATO and recently declared that he would resign from office in return for membership. Moderator Maischberger asked Klitschko: "Do you think a peace agreement and NATO membership would be easier without Volodymyr Selenskyj?" Klitschko reacted with a straight face and countered briefly: "Without Putin."

In a now prospective agreement on US access to raw materials in Ukraine, Klitschko explained: "It can also be profitable and good, for Ukraine, just as it is for the states." It is not about selling the country, but about investments. "You have to get hold of the raw materials first to make the country attractive. That is also part of the economy."

Klitschko also had words of praise for the likely future chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU): "I believe that he can be a great chancellor." He recalled that Merz was the first German politician to visit Ukraine after the war began. Merz also has a clear vision of Germany and Europe. Since Europe currently lacks "leadership" and courage, Germany could take on a leading role, a "historic mandate," with a determined chancellor.