A look at what this political limbo has meant for germany and for europe after weeks of political wrangling the fate of the potential coalition between conservatives and the social Democratic Party now lies in the hands of the almost half a million s. P. D. Party members who have a post about it on the terms of the agreement but the vote could go either way because the s. P. D. Is divided while the older Party Establishment is keen to renew the coalition with chancellor merkel the youth wing wants the party to go into opposition this split is apparent even in families we met with welsh ticknor the Deputy Party Chairman who was instrumental not only in the negotiations for the Coalition Agreement but also in convincing members to support it members like his son fabi on hes concerned about the partys sinking Approval Rating and once them to take a new direction. Carnival season in melbourne and the world in germany. A chance for the social democrats to get into the past and forget about their troubles and miserable ratings for one night at least. Didnt t. S. P. The chairman of state is here to drum up grassroots support for a grand coalition in berlin. His son fabienne takes a more skeptical view. As a member of the s. P. D. His youth wing hes against anyone you deny its with under the americans conservatives as part of the festivities this fall the place the way to trying to wedge his fellow Party Members appetites for the coalition. Weve got it right here are one hundred seventy seven pages long. Take your time a drink perhaps its all my house how about a cocktail martyns martini surprise shaken not stirred shaken quite a bit in fact. Nice everyone can laugh at jokes about the recently departed party leader martin sure its there are too worried about the future four hundred and sixty five thousand rank and file members now have to decide whether to approve or reject the coalition the rift between young and old in the party runs deep. Critical im voting against the grand coalition because im in the young socialists and i dont think id be good for the s. P. D. Today. Or been a member of this party for over forty years. If the majority decides it doesnt value all the things weve achieved plus the good ministerial posts all cancel my membership. Wants to talk his father out of the grand coalition thats despite being one of the negotiators who spend weeks working up a deal with the christian democrats. Self happens to work as a volunteer helping refugees. He says the agreement doesnt take them into account adequately. And he voted how feasible is it to make compromises and say were at least trying to prevent the status quo on migration and refugee policy from getting worse. Pretty sets of reasons why on refugees an area i helped to negotiate we have some improvements without the s. P. D. There would be no immigration bill we secured improvements for those on extended temporary status we are due for a long time. Many of us generations see another four years of coalition with Angela Merkel as political stagnation which they dont want the social democrats to get caught up in. But his father thinks the alternative could be worse. And worse as i learned you have to compare ive always been skeptical of the grand coalition im still around so i understand our next set the objections but you have to ask is there any real alternative if everything goes wrong we could face a day barclay in the next elections and the probability is extremely hard because the in tar electorate would hold us responsible. To far beyond that sounds like committing suicide for fear of dying he says his fathers afraid to give the social democrats new our intentions when the club whatever social democracy is thats where i want to see this side to go thats our concept of humanity thats our idea of coexistence thats our vision of solidarity and social justice. But in the weeks to come the social democrats will first have to focus on keeping the Party Together and everyone closing ranks and staying in line. One member sums up the s. P. D. Situation. Regrettable but we have ourselves to blame. But could a grand coalition itself perhaps help the party get back on its feet a speedy deputy chairman have stayed there believes that in the end the rank and file will play a role but i think a big jorrocks he will say yes if we can convince them well have to make good use of the next few weeks ill try to do my part. His son and many of the young social democrats are not convinced and theyd like a big a say in running the party in the future. Doesnt it just now i want to see a stronger push moving forward not just the String Quartet but some heavy metal to on the political stage. On this stage at least five stigmas sings the praises of party unity however the vote may go. It may not be riveting all rocking but hell be glad if history can stay in chewin with a crucial younger section of the party base. We will know sooner than later whether germanys s. P. D. Survives this election but theyre not the only center left party in europe facing an uncertain future frances socialists were practically wiped out in last years parliamentarian elections despite being in power during the previous government the party eked out less than six percent of the vote all reporter met with a young socialist in leo who believes he knows where the partys problems lie and is determined to help resolve them. Lille in northern france has traditionally been a stronghold for frances socialist party maybe shylock grew up here he shows as around the suburb of water a lot where his parents still live like many older residents here they came from algeria his mothers a cleaning lady his father a factory worker became interested in politics when he was just fifteen. One of my First Political acts was to tear down a post to featuring former president Nicolas Sarkozy that i detested so causing that he called people here trash that needed to be swept away so i tore down that. Hes always opposed making concessions to the conservatives not goes for his fellow left wing as in germany two. Hundred in germany the social democrats say they need to govern with the conservatives for the good of the country but thats a mistake because europe needs a common discourse we need to say we will no longer accept the status quo a europe that pleases the rich and crushes the poor. Maybe chala himself grew up in a poor family but he worked hard in school and came here every evening to cant help with his homework so he was able to study law at seventeen he joined frances socialist party its been in power and leader for decades and is renovating the area maybe child grew up in though even that he sense well levelled the Playing Field for its residents. As a teenager it became clear how important this association was to me because no one could help me at home for kids whose parents are teachers doctors or lawyers its a different story and thats simply not fair for the law. That if we get it he went into politics and moved to paris to work as an assistant for a socialist m. P. But his political aspirations were question. During the french parliamentary election of twenty seventeen the socialist were decimated receiving less than six percent of the vote our wants to convince other young people in the party that the socialists themselves were to blame for the election day by arkell he believes former president Francois Hollande should have reacted differently after the twenty fifteen terror attacks in paris thats working out like about how many in the bone you wouldnt observe a minute of silence for the victims or show respect and solidarity after the attacks still the socialists should have listened rather than pointing the finger and calling them racist because theres something behind their actions they dont feel part of france. But of the partys headquarters in paris the socialists fail to acknowledge that mistakes were made people here are more focused on their impending move to new premises their prestigious Central Office building was sold to a significant drop in membership frances youth were once fervent supporters of socialist president francois mitterrand today the editor in chief a magazine lover who sews a list has a pessimistic view of the future. If youre a socialist who cares about the party theres not much reason to be happy. But it looks bad for socialists all over europe. Of course will continue to exist. But perhaps as a small party thats dependent on others. Its a far cry from what wed hoped for. Mostly by the two men this. Many young socialists have joined president a man who while mcconnells party lowrey publico marsh or drifted to the extreme left but a small group is trying to save the socialist Party Teacher maxime bar you is among them hes a village councillor who is continuing the partys work at the Grassroots Level he strictly against forming an alliance with microphones party. Or if all appointing today is a complete right wing out that is it would be makes right wing policies that benefit the super rich and the poorest and least in germany the young socialists position themselves against the grand coalition for. The young people were the only ones. They knew theyd have to sell their souls to govern with merkel. And all when it isnt all. Been live maybe china is convinced that the socialists have a future in france provided that the party undergoes a radical restructuring. Of all that out of it before we debate our political agenda we must sort out how will reorganize the party internally. And he feels that germany social democrat should do the same to rejuvenating socialist parties and politics across europe. The german public arent the only ones waiting for the new government to finally be in place brussels home to the European Unions headquarters where you last are drafted also waits impatiently until a coalition is formed in berlin decisions on how to proceed on breaks it a common refugee policy or Economic Reforms are effectively on hold so much for german efficiency. Must be a german restaurant right next to the European Commission customers come here to tuck into a slap up sausage supper and the latest subject to political debate one thing they agree on the lack of a working German Government is taking its toll in brussels. All of the you have to admit without germany does little progress the belgians of course having no government is not unusual. Theres no dressing down to be had in tintins homeland are struggling to form a coalition at the start of the decade the country went nineteen months without a government. The amount of say four months isnt that long here in belgium things always take forever but you have to be patient nieman is almost all germans are so well organized even without an official government im sure the country is taking over just arent running at the e. U. s headquarters in the city however its no laughing matter waiting for germany has led to frustration and frayed nerves. The german Coalition Agreement comprises some one hundred seventy seven pages and opens with a chapter on the e. U. Promises to improve competition and boost innovation in europe but it remains to be seen when berlin will actually be able to get started. Meanwhile the president of the European Commission john claude is still reluctant to break the germans after all the Coalition Agreement mentions the word europe three hundred twelve times by his counts including the title will give dozen where else can you find a government commits to european issues from the start of demons. But words arent enough European Parliament members in the social Democrat Camp want political impasse in germany means the same in brussels with a daily work in the European Parliament its maybe these initiatives we were used in the boss when germany had a leading role now its maybe. Passive player centrists agree that the inaction in berlin has to finally end the e. U. Has urgent matters to address such as its future budgets a pressing issue especially with brics it on the horizon. Were already working on you know formulating our wishes our proposals taking position on the seven year budget we should finalize the process before the end of term of the European Parliament germanys absence is felt all too acutely in paris president want to rev up the reforms but has to wait for berlin in brussels its no secret that unless frances most important partner gets involved nothing moves forward here. In germany stops talking and stops leading. A big gap emerges in its use such as euro zone reforms to the economic policies and migration Security Issues security supermarkets only have to apply for france wants to negotiate with germany but conde of that really is a big problem over at the german restaurant everyone agrees that unless burnham picks up the pace things in europe could get distinctly on appetising some experts pinpoint the beginning of germanys political crisis all the way back to twenty fifteen when chancellor merkel offered censure wary to upwards of a million Asylum Seekers merkel paid a political price of last years elections when the far right searched on anti migrant sentiment to reach germany many refugees took the socalled balkan route crossing through turkey serbia and hungary there are thousands of refugees now stuck in serbia after hungary decided to limit the entry of migrants suggest one per day it could now take years for many of them to get through. This makeshift refugee camp on the serbian hungary and border used to be full of people now its deserted the drastic steps taken by the hungarian government to deter the refugees the soldiers and the high fence have had the desired effect at least here in horror gosh. Two young men are holding out a man from afghanistan and fareed from iran. Theyve been living here in appalling conditions for over a year the other refugees chose them to be their contact passes for the authorities. They supposed to update the list of those refugees allowed to cross into hungary and the European Union every day. Until recently families would have to wait in various Holding Camps here in serbia for a year. Now things are much worse for the last three weeks hungry has only been allowing one person a day or one family a week to pass through. That increases three or four layers. Of people here are oppressed gradually going crazy from having to wait so long. Nobody knows when they can go. Two years ago this camp in serbia on the hunger in border was badly overcrowded it had no electricity or water only fifteen refugees were allowed into hungry through the hard cash check point per day hoping to provide some relief aid organizations and the serbian authorities moved the refugees to camps with Better Living conditions and further back from the border where it was easier to monitor them. At the same time hungry built a fence and made it harder to cross the border. Pay man and ferry decided to stay here in one of the tents left behind. And theyve taken responsibility for informing their fellow refugees in case the border opens. They describe how the procedure works. We pick up the family from the ten to eight am and they wait here another hour then the hunger call them and they can enter the country legally. But a few weeks ago the authorities stopped working together with these two refugees without explanation. Once a week visits his family in the camp in sabbat its a twenty kilometers away his little daughter neiers overjoyed to see her father again about a hundred refugees are stranded here. A man tells the people in the camp about the lack of communication from the hunger ariens. You know it has a wife and three children already in germany he himself has been stuck here with his nephew and sister for over a year now. So when i was so happy when i reached the border because i thought id be seeing my family soon and the time i didnt know what the procedure here was there really clamping down for sixty people a week then thirty and now just one a day. The government in budapest denies that its forgotten about the refugees and their plight. There might be a quarter mile area and government of force protection to everyone who needs it theres no decree that we only let one in pradesh but if theres only one guy standing around there why should we put ten officials on it. Outside the border fence said her gosh fareed and climbin are getting ready for another cold winter night they never know when something could happen and they might be needed. Was the ones who honest will eventually find their way to a new line. Behold. Neither of them would even think about giving up. A man and fareed are adamant that their dream of europe does not end at this border. Finally we look at a tiny british territory just two point six square miles in size of the southern tip of spain for hundreds of years gibraltar has been a thorn in the side of u. K. Spanish relations both claim sovereignty and attempts by the two nations to arnaout their differences have repeatedly failed now with greggs approaching british people here are worried that outside the e. U. Single market trade and travel will become harder and threaten not just their economy but their identity. For the first time in three stormy days ernest and his customs agents can go back out on patrol theyre looking primarily for contraband cigarettes which are cheaper and this british overseas territory so theyre often smuggled into spain the spanish authorities are also on the lookout. For. We we have a. Rescue operation. We have. There are. Two danino and every gibraltarian the border is a symbol of three hundred years of friction between spain and britain in the eighteenth century the spanish laid siege to the rock twice attempting to recapture it by force. In one thousand nine hundred sixty nine spanish dictator Francisco Franco closed the border completely and imposed an economic blockade. For seventeen years the peninsula had to be supplied by sea and air. Ernest any no remembers that era and has no desire to see it repeated one reason he and ninety six percent of gibraltar voted against. The e. U. Means advantages such as an open border for labor trade and tourism the very opposite of renewed isolation. Danny knows friend Paul Cartwright works for gibraltars government he also sees bracks it as a mistake but worse he says is that spain of all countries is to be given a say in future as part of the brics in negotiations. If we have to kick the e. U. Out of your oprah we dont mind as long as we remain british are not spanish in any way whatsoever we would never ever contemplate sharing any type. Maybe with a. Any other nation in the world but not always paid off fears is we going to spoil something that works is an old saying if it works why mend it and its working we are thriving with thriving small nation against all odds. And. We dont need this thread to sovereignty i think spain is going to do most to gain as much and the stones i dont. Sympathize with it and they going to use this unnecessary. To try and get a foot into it it is quite scary for. Spain is making efforts to dispel the fears of the local population so far madrid has only demanded joint use of the pencil as airport and more cooperation on offshore tax evasion but many gibraltarians see even that as interference in their sovereignty. The customs agents also have to monitor the land border and spain details all the breck said agreements concerning gibraltar conditions here could change drastically. The delays would be that this border would be treated like completely outside a europe border. One hundred percent checks which would really stop the flow of people which is the idea of the European Union having free flow borders that would be stopped. The commercial side as world could be affected and many spaniards friends of course. Who work here would be affected seriously. Dany noah and his partner check out the construction site for a new airport building and tourist facilities right by the border fence cracks it could render Major Investments in the future redundant. The moment and that is the problem that if. We are out of europe if the border gets hard if we have a lot of agreements and they tighten the screw us we would lose what weve worked hard to to gain at the moment whatever the future holds the people of gibraltar are used to weathering Turbulent Times berlin has also weathered its fair share of storms we hope you enjoyed this special edition on german politics and its impact on the rest of europe goodbye from me and the whole team. Blah be. The be. The be. The be. The be. The be. The be. The but the be. The be. The be. The being stars browsing performance the be intoxicating mix if not the be from irish singer imelda man the beach. The book. The businesses. Could crowd. And have found the chasing the sun. But they will also experience prejudice an incentive for the abut impact does this have on the. Black skin going to germany possibly. Sixty minutes d. W. They make a commitment. They find solutions. They inspire a. Africa on the moon the story of both people making a difference shaping the nation playing and their continent. On his new multimedia series for africa. Dot com africa on the move. W. True diversity. Where the world of science is at home in many languages. Put out a program to go in there to. Tell us that our innovations magazine for in asia. Every week and always looking to the future on t. W. Dot com of science and research for asia. Really feel. The scars. The pain still tangible. The suffer go. Through our cities and. They have survived but do they also have a future. I really understand people who say they dont want to stay here. But i also admire people who want to stay here and who decided to create something a new thing in peace time what needs to happen if tolerance and reconciliation are to stand a chance darkness cities after war starting march tenth on d w. Place. To Nations Security Council has voted unanimously to demand a thirty day cease fire in syria. For truce would allow for eight deliveries and medical evacuations hundreds have been killed in recent days in eastern guta besieged suburb of a capital damascus. Several american businesses are cutting their ties to the progun lobby group the National Rifle association have announced they were no longer offer discounts to n. R. A