Angela Merkel finally has some breathing space following Wednesday’s deal to form a new coalition government in Germany. Provided the agreement is not torpedoed by a Momentum-style revolt within the Social Democratic Party (SPD), it should be enough to secure her another term in office.
But it was clear as the details of Wednesday’s deal emerged that it will be a weaker Mrs Merkel who clings on as chancellor, and that the government she heads will be very different from her last one, even if her coalition partners remain the same.
For a start, Mrs Merkel has had to relinquish control of all three of the great ministries of state. The SPD have walked away with foreign and finance ministries, while…
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