With both France and Germany led by minority governments, the continent’s key powers are likely to be consumed by domestic politics as challenges pile up.

After months of disputes, Chancellor Olaf Scholz ousted one of his governing partners, adding to the challenges for Europe since Donald Trump’s election.

The collapse of Germany's ruling coalition is set to bring more economic pain in the months ahead and just a glimmer of hope for Europe's ailing economic giant if, and that is a big if, it can lead to a less fractious government and more coherent policies.

EARLY IN THE morning of November 6th, as Europe digested the result of America’s presidential election, three senior figures in Germany’s government were huddling for crisis talks in Berlin. But Olaf Scholz, the chancellor, Robert Habeck, the vice ...