While the world has been watching Washington, Germany is quietly going into political meltdown. This is a very German crisis involving coalition infighting and complicated constitutional questions. But behind the complex political wrangling,

Germany's conservative opposition heaped pressure on Chancellor Olaf Scholz's crisis-hit government Thursday to allow for speedy elections by calling a confidence vote next week rather than next year.

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.