00:00Pauline is on her way to see her friends.
00:02Now, after the breakdown of Germany's coalition of social democrats, business-friendly free
00:07democrats and greens, she is still coming to terms with the news.
00:11It was a totally crazy day.
00:16After waking up in the morning and thinking that after Trump was elected, nothing crazier
00:20could happen today, then the German government collapses in the evening.
00:24Her reaction?
00:25Political activism.
00:26She fears that the far-right will profit from the coalition's breakdown and makes her voice
00:30heard in a protest against right-wing extremism.
00:33The far-right AFD are poised to grow their vote share in upcoming elections.
00:37They are targeting young voters with success.
00:40In recent months, we have seen that the political debate is almost completely dominated by far-right
00:46issues.
00:47And that's exactly what far-right parties ultimately benefit from.
00:51Young people worry that instability inside Germany could make it harder for the country
00:55to handle global insecurities.
00:57Fortunately, I grew up in a very peaceful time for the most part.
01:02But since the war in Ukraine and Corona, that peaceful period is over.
01:10And now with Trump back in government, I can imagine that something could happen relatively
01:14quickly that could also affect us.
01:15I'm definitely afraid.
01:19But for some, the breakup of the unpopular coalition also offers a chance for change.
01:24The Young Greens are in campaign mode and now hope to bring the climate crisis back
01:28up the political agenda.
01:30There is now hope that there will be good policies in Germany again.
01:34Policies that create a fair life, that protect the planet.
01:36And that concerns us young people the most.
01:40Germany's young free Democrats have a different focus.
01:44I hope that the next government just takes care of the economy.
01:49We need to ease the burden on citizens and companies because they just want to do their
01:53job and otherwise be left in peace.
01:58But signs are the parties who formed the coalition face an uphill battle.
02:02Poles predict that they won't fare well in the coming elections, with the CDU set to
02:07lead the next government.
02:09In the coming months, Pauline hopes to make sure young voices are heard.
02:13If there really are early elections now, I think a political window will open in which
02:19a lot is possible very, very quickly.
02:25For young people of various political persuasions, a lack of clarity about Germany's future
02:30doesn't mean a lack of hope.
02:32Now they all have the chance to speak up for their priorities.
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