Merz Takes Questions Live on ARD’s ‘Arena’ Tonight

Overview

• Live at 20:15 for 60 minutes on ARD, the program features about 150 selected citizens posing questions, moderated by Jessy Wellmer and Louis Klamroth.
• Producers flag a focus on pensions, conscription, health care, critical infrastructure, care, skilled‑worker shortages, migration and the Deutsche Bahn.
• The appearance follows trips to Jerusalem and London, including talks with Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelensky alongside Emmanuel Macron and Keir Starmer.
• The Ukraine discussion unfolds in the context of recent international moves such as President Trump’s proposed peace plan.
• Forsa reports 76% dissatisfaction with Merz’s performance, the lowest since his May inauguration, while the ‘Arena’ format has previously drawn over five million TV viewers and strong social‑media engagement.