While the factions of Germany’s political class seem to be drifting further and further apart, Germany’s former political star Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg is building bridges. Together with left-wing politician Gregor Gysi, Guttenberg hosts a podcast, titled Gysi Gegen Guttenberg (Gysi Versus Guttenberg). After its debut last week, the podcast rose in the Apple Podcast Charts to number four overall and number one in the “News” category.

Gysi is one of the most prominent left-wing politicians in Germany. He is a socialist and avowed Marxist who has done a lot to make the German left popular. Guttenberg, however, comes from the Christian Social Union (csu), which promotes Europe’s traditional Christian conservatism. Yet the two repeatedly emphasized that they, despite disagreements, have a lot more in common than one may think.

In the second podcast, titled “Is the United States Still Our Friend?”, Gysi gave some insight into how two individuals from completely different spectrums can unite. He used the example of Erich Honecker, former party leader and head of state of the German Democratic Republic, and Franz Josef Strauss, the party leader of the csu and state premier of Bavaria. He said they found common ground after hearing the Soviet Union and the U.S.’s plans for Germany in a potential third world war.

Gysi claimed that the U.S. and Russia sought to prevent such a war, but that they agreed if a third world war did start they would try to keep it limited to Germany. This would, of course, have been detrimental to East and West Germany. Honecker and Strauss agreed to work together in opposition of these plans.

Gysi used this example to show that the U.S. can be seen as a partner but should not be seen as a friend (to this interpretation, Guttenberg took some exception). This example also shows that even the most opposing views within a country can come together when confronted with geopolitical threats. This may be the message Germans need to hear today as their political landscape is increasingly fractured and global threats are rising.

Prior to leaving German politics in 2011, Guttenberg was Germany’s most popular politician and considered the next chancellor. Twelve years after leaving politics, he is once again rising in popularity. You need to watch this trend closely.

Since Guttenberg left Germany in disgrace, Trumpet editor in chief Gerald Flurry has repeatedly noted that he believes the former political star is the most likely candidate to lead Germany and Europe in the future.

Mr. Flurry has also drawn special attention to scriptures in the book of Daniel that are exclusively for the end time (Daniel 12). A prophecy in Daniel 11 speaks of an end-time leader who will rise in Europe today through “flatteries” (Daniel 11:21). Read Mr. Flurry’s article “Is KT zu Guttenberg About to Come to Power?” to learn why we believe this prophecy is about to be fulfilled. While we can’t know for sure who this prophesied leader will be, Guttenberg’s growing publicity may give us yet another clue.