Germany

Led by Friedrich Merz, the CDU are capitalizing on nostalgia for what is increasingly romanticized as Germany’s political “golden age.”

German leaders have maintained their ironclad support for Israel. It’s increasingly putting them at odds with their constituents.

The coming year looks to be one of continued headaches and reactive crisis management for Germany’s ruling three-party coalition. A budget crisis, which triggered mass farmers protests, has compounded the country’s existing challenges, testing the durability of the ruling coalition and the political skills of its leaders.