Once the most political stable nation in Europe and an economic powerhouse__ Germany is now in trouble

Historically Germany has been one of the most politically stable nations in Europe and an economic powerhouse. But over the past few year’s things have changed – the German economy has started to slow; politics has become more fragmented and the extreme far right party the Alternative for Germany or AfD has doubled its political support.

Last year the centre left three-party coalition government of Olaf Scholz collapsed. Next Sunday Germany goes to the polls to elect a new government, also likely to be a coalition. What are the key election issues, will the new collation government be any more stable and why does this election matter not just in Germany but also across Europe?