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
The looming elections in Germany will have an inevitable and enduring impact, not just on Germany, but on Europe as a whole. It will be the first election in 20 years that will not be contested by Angela Merkel, who was elected leader of the centre-right CDU party in 2000.
Merkel has been a solid and enduring presence on the European scene through turbulent times, and her absence will be greatly felt.
While the other ...