The Christian Democratic Union (CDU) of the fourth-term chancellor, Angela Merkel,
will start 2021 under a new party leader; Armin Laschet, a centrist state premier, is the
leading contender. As the CDU’s candidate for chancellor, he would also be favourite to
win the general election in late 2021. The field will remain polarised by immigration
and climate policy, but the CDU is emerging strengthened from the pandemic and
should lead the next coalition government. Germany responded to covid-19 with a rare
bout of fiscal generosity and its recession will be shallower than the EU average.
TO WATCH: Going underground. Work is scheduled to start on the Fehmarnbelt tunnel
between Germany and Denmark. At 18km it will be the world’s longest combined road-
and-rail immersed tube tunnel.