Germany will next month make an important political choice – probably the most important it has made since 1969, when it first embraced the politics of social democracy. It is essentially a choice between of whether to confront ing the future through economic reforms or seek ing refuge in the illusions of a defunct dysfunctional social-market system.economy.

The outcome of the country’s general election will have deep important reverberations in the European Union. A vote for reform would encourage reformers in other EU countries member states and strengthen the European Commission in its efforts to liberalise goods and services markets. It would alter the EU’s balance of power much more than a ny change of government in any single EU country of its member nations has done for many years.