Germany’s government is barely holding together
The mood in the country is miserable—and it is getting worse
VISITORS to Germany’s capital may mistake the Berliner Schnauze (literally “snout”), an earthy form of local wit, for grumpiness. But there is no misreading the mood in Germany today. A deep malaise has settled on the country. Four-fifths of Germans tell pollsters they are unhappy with their rulers. And a series of upcoming political and electoral trials could test the government to breaking-point.
Explore more
This article appeared in the Europe section of the print edition under the headline “Germany’s three-body problem”
Europe May 18th 2024
- Germany’s government is barely holding together
- Volodymyr Zelensky’s five-year term ends on May 20th
- Russia is ramping up sabotage across Europe
- Meet Gabriel Attal, France’s young prime minister
- Turkish women should soon be allowed to keep their maiden names
- The EU’s best-laid plans for expansion are clashing with reality
From the May 18th 2024 edition
Discover stories from this section and more in the list of contents
Explore the editionMore from Europe
Russian trainee pilots appear to be hunting Ukrainian civilians
Residents of Kherson are dodging murderous drones
Can the good ship Europe weather the Trumpnado?
Tossed by political storms, the continent must dodge a new threat
Spain’s proposed house tax on foreigners will not fix its shortage
Pedro Sánchez will need the opposition’s help to increase supply
A French-sponsored Ukrainian army brigade has been badly botched
The scandal reveals serious weaknesses in Ukraine’s military command
A TV dramatisation of Mussolini’s life inflames Italy
With Giorgia Meloni in power, the fascist past is more relevant than ever
France’s new prime minister is trying to court the left
François Bayrou gambles with Emmanuel Macron’s economic legacy