After decades of relative stability, the country has entered a new era of political fragmentation and will hold new elections at a precarious time.

The collapse of Germany's ruling coalition is set to bring more economic pain in the months ahead and just a glimmer of hope for Europe's ailing economic giant if, and that is a big if, it can lead to a less fractious government and more coherent policies.

Instead, they were deciding whether to blow up their fraying coalition. Barely 12 hours later, it was all over—and how. In a blistering speech delivered after last-ditch coalition talks fell apart Mr Scholz, from the Social Democrats (spd), eviscerated ...