Historically Germany has been one of the most politically stable nations in Europe and an economic powerhouse. But over the past few year’s things have changed – the German economy has started to slow; politics has become more fragmented and the extreme far right party the Alternative for Germany or AfD has doubled its political support.

Last year the centre left three-party coalition government of Olaf Scholz collapsed. Next Sunday Germany goes to the polls to elect a new government, also likely to be a coalition. What are the key election issues, will the new collation government be any more stable and why does this election matter not just in Germany but also across Europe?