Germany Is In a Very Dark Place, and Time's Running Out

The far-right Alternative for Germany's dramatic election win in the eastern state of Saxony-Anhalt on Sunday is a watershed in the country's postwar history. In a nation known in the modern era for stability, Germans in this small federal region have embraced populist, nationalist ideas in large numbers. Whether this electoral censure marks the low point for Germany, or the start of a descent into something far worse, is now up to Chancellor Friedrich Merz's coalition. It needs to deliver economic growth and a renewed sense of optimism and trust in democracy. I'm not confident that Merz is up to the task.