In a year of unpredictable elections in the United States and in Europe, Germany’s federal elections on Sept. 24 went as expected: Chancellor Angela Merkel was re-elected to a rare fourth term, signaling that a majority of Germans want more of the same for the next four years. And, why shouldn’t they? Germany has enjoyed low unemployment, historic budget surpluses, and is the undisputed (if reluctant) leader of Europe. But, despite the desire for stability among most, the elections also signaled a growing disenchantment with the mainstream and a desire to shake up German politics, even if just a bit.
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Alina Polyakova: The new thorn in Merkel’s side
German Chancellor Angela Merkel (C) and the secretary general of her conservative Christian Democratic Union (CDU) party Peter Tauber (L) arrive for a meeting with the party's leadership in Berlin on Sept. 25, one day after general elections.
