Lucinda Creighton: As Merkel bows out, who will be the steadying hand of Europe?

Armin Laschet, the staid new leader of the centre-right CDU, may just hold off the charismatic Greens leader Annalena Baerbock to become German chancellor

‘Annalena Baerbock, chancellor candidate and co-head of the German Greens, is a perfect candidate in may ways, being young, articulate, female and smart.’ Picture: Getty