Overview
- ZDF host Markus Lanz devoted his 23 and 24 September episodes to unpacking the political fallout of the recent land elections, with special focus on the AfD’s win in Mecklenburg‑Vorpommern and its implications for national politics.
- The 23 September show featured Manfred Weber, Leif‑Erik Holm, Kerstin Münstermann and migration researcher Gerald Knaus, with Holm saying the AfD is preparing to take up an opposition role after the victory.
- The 24 September episode brought Andreas Rödder, Herfried Münkler, Nina Kolleck and Robin Alexander to discuss the crisis of the Volksparteien, how Chancellor Friedrich Merz and the CDU might respond, and changing youth voting patterns.
- Migration and border-management issues, including references to incidents at Ceuta, were a major thread across both nights as guests debated practical asylum solutions and compared the AfD’s stance with other European right-wing parties.
- The broadcasts serve as an immediate forum shaping post-election debate and public pressure on party strategy; the show airs around 23:15 on ZDF with episodes available in the ZDF‑Mediathek shortly after transmission.