This year has been called 'super election year' in Germany.
On 27 September, the federal election takes place and by the end of the year there will have been five state elections and eight local elections. Complex coalition politics and campaigns led by personalities rather than policies have left pundits complaining the contest is boring.
In this series, we take you where the politicians have refused to go, with articles on how the country has changed in the last five years, including the rise of the left, EU enlargement, youth politics, green issues and more.
Ulrike Helwerth: Germany Now: Despite her leadership skills, women have no particular reason to vote for Merkel, considering her record on equal pay or rights
Kate Connolly: Germany Now: Its companies have been resilient in the downturn, but advances in the east have been glacial – and people are leaving in droves
