Is Germany a democracy?

Remember the last time Germany had problems forming a government?

The German election of 2017 is an exercise in chaos, which something the ordinarily well organized Germans are not known for.

Angela Merkel won 41% of the vote and cannot form a government.  With such a low vote, Merkel;s Christian Democratic Party is not able to form a partnership with its traditional partner the Christian Socialist Union.  The usual partner forming mechanism is not working for a variety of reasons.  Some point to Moslem immigration while others speak of growing anti-European Union sentiment.  There may be a myriad of other reasons too.

German politics, since 1945, have tended toward coalition building so one party does not become too dominant.  The reason: 1933-1945...look it up.

The European Union has faced criticism that it is too bureaucratic and undemocratic.  Germany is starting to face the same critics.  This behind the scenes coalition building makes everything seem too secretive.

The result is that the CDP is reaching across the political spectrum to its opponents to build a coalition. 

That generally does not work.

When German politics become interesting, the rest of Europe takes notice.

Hopefully they bet it together.  Makes you happy America has the Atlantic and Pacific on both sides.