The next few years won’t be pretty
Angela Merkel will remain German chancellor. That widely anticipated outcome was about the only unsurprising element of Sunday’s German election.
The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) finished much stronger than most observers dared predict, becoming the first unabashedly racist, anti-foreigner party to sit in Germany’s parliament since the days of Hitler.
The Social Democrats (SPD) all but imploded, opting to go into opposition to lick their wounds rather than risk another “grand coalition” with Merkel.
The Free Democrats, back in parliament after four years in the wilderness, along with the Greens finished slightly better than projected, opening the door to a three-way tie-up with Merkel’s conservatives.
Previously considered a long shot, the…