The German election

Germans head to the polls this Sunday in a dull and almost indifferent atmosphere that is a far cry from the emotions and tensions that characterized the Austrian, Dutch and French elections. Perhaps boredom is a side effect of stability. However, serious issues in the European Union have been left hanging.

Germany is not Switzerland to be responsible just for itself: For better or worse, it is the leader of "united" Europe, and the vast majority of member-states are - to various degrees and for different reasons - going through a period of turmoil largely resulting from two major choices made by Berlin - Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble's unrelenting fiscal austerity and Chancellor Angela Merkel's immigration policy.

The key question regarding the German elections is not what kind of coalition will form a government, as it will take several months for a cooperation...