The firewall is crumbling: Germany stands at a crossroads in an election where climate, activism and the far-right swirl

The country goes to the polls on 23 February in an election that will have ramifications far beyond its borders, Martha Bird reports for The Lead from Berlin

As Germany braces for a historic election on 23 February, left-wing activists have been out on the streets of Berlin grappling with existential questions about democracy, diversity and the future of their country.

Following the government’s collapse in November last year, the nation once synonymous with stability is now dealing with intense political and…