As a metaphor for the German state having rings run around it by barely literate, violent migrant gangs the image of a police car up on bricks having had its wheels stolen is a powerful one. This is the cover of the latest edition(€) of Der Speigel, the high circulation, high brow news magazine which is this week questioning the Federal government with the emboldened headline ‘State Impotence’ — a play on words leaving ‘State Power’ in black text and the modifier in white. One of a number of news outlets set up by the occupying British army in the aftermath of the Second World War to provide media for the new post-Nazi Germany, Der Spiegel has grown to become one of Europe’s most important and influential magazines. The latest edition paints a bleak picture of Germany where the government has failed to discharge its basic duties of protecting the citizen, and even looks to a future solution without Chancellor Merkel. Becoming increasingly isolated from her colleagues in the ruling coalition — despite grabbing more executive power for herself — Der Spiegel paints a picture of a withdrawn, angry leader. Comparing the chancellor to her attitude weeks ago at the fortnightly Republic governance meeting