The emergence of Martin Schulz as the centre-left Social Democrats’ candidate for chancellor has fundamentally altered the dynamics of German politics. It is also changing the debate in Germany on inequality and the future of Europe in ways that will have a significant impact across the continent.
Germany is regarded as an economic success story. Unemployment is at its lowest level since reunification in 1990; the trade surplus has reached a record high. And the government has just registered a fiscal surplus of €24bn, or 0.8 per cent of gross domestic product.
Yet, for all the good economic news, polls show that 70 per cent of Germans believe that inequality is excessive.
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