Germany's 'traffic light coalition' is flashing yellow

IN EARLY December, an era ended in German politics.

After 16 years, centre-right Chancellor Angela Merkel finally retired, making way for Olaf Scholz. He leads a so-called "traffic light coalition", composed of three ideologically diverse parties: his own Social Democrats ("red"), the liberal Free Democrats ("yellow") and the Green Party (well, you guessed it: "green").

There is a palpable sense of a new beginning in Germany, following years of political drift. The new coalition has laid out an ambitious agenda of modernisation, digitalisation, and a path to climate neutrality.