I'm somewhat apprehensive of the 'Grand Coalition' government being formed in Germany. What will happen when it becomes unpopular - as all governments do, but this one perhaps more quickly than others given its need to compromise widely differing views?

If both main parties are sharing the blame and voters want to vote for the opposition, it could mean that the extreme parties will do well. The only time the neo-nazi NPD ever came close to reaching the 5% threshold for representation in the Bundestag was during the last Grand Coalition in 1967-69. There's a danger that, this time, disaffected CDU/CSU supporters vote for the far right and disaffected SPD supporters vote for the former communist “Left Party”. This in turn would make coalitions other than a grand coalition more difficult to achieve, and a vicious circle would be started. Let’s hope it doesn't get that bad.