Since the Germanic tribes started to invade the Roman Empire, Germans have dreamt about Italy. Now they have it – Italian political conditions: no parliamentary majority for either of the two big camps (Christian Democrats plus Free Democrats and Social Democrats plus Greens). Other marriages fail on grounds of personal and ideological enmities.

So for the first time in postwar history, Germany is stalemated. And will be for at least two more weeks, after a by-election in Dresden which could melt down the three-seat edge of the Merkelians. Best bet: a grand coalition of CDU and SPD, but without Schroeder or Merkel, who is the biggest loser of this election and whose days are numbered. Germany’s Tories are very cruel to their losers. Schroeder will be out because he claims the leadership of this grand coalition, which the Christian Democrats will fight to the end because the are the strongest party in the Bundestag.

But this grand coalition is like all such tandems inherently unstable, and so are all other likely combos. Look for new elections soon. Where is the Supreme Court when we really need it?