Following the German election, all of the country’s major party leaders agreed that Germany needs to move forward. But if the electorate had had its way, it would have re-elected Angela Merkel.
With a very close result as counting continues, it could be weeks or even months before a government is formed. But Sunday’s election has already delivered some significant results.
As her 16-year reign as German Chancellor comes to an end, Merkel will be remembered for her staunch centrism and her willingness to wait to sense the political mood - sometimes then changing course.
In mid-2015 the German Foreign Office after decades of denial seemingly acceded, in a very informal way, to labelling what had happened in South West Africa as genocide, is now backtracking.
Upbeat delegates at the December 2017 conference of Germany’s anti-immigration party, the AfD.
Reuters/Hannibal Hanschke
Over three months since Germans voted in national elections, preliminary talks are due to start Jan. 7 on forming a coalition government. What has taken so long?
Refugees in Greece seeking reunification with family in Germany.
Orestis Panagiotou/EPA