IT HAS been a dramatic few months in Germany. November saw the collapse of the three-party coalition led by Olaf Scholz, triggering an early election that will take place on February 23rd. Then, last month, the campaign was given a jolt by the decision of Friedrich Merz, head of the opposition conservative Christian Democrats (cdu), to push anti-immigration motions through the Bundestag with support from the hard-right Alternative for Germany (afd). For many, including hundreds of thousands that took to the streets in protest, Mr Merz had violated a long-standing taboo against working with extremists.