“MANY INDIVIDUALS…are beginning to sense that something feels amiss in our nation and the broader world.” In his concluding “MerzMail” newsletter ahead of Germany’s pivotal election this Sunday, Friedrich Merz, who is likely to become the tenth chancellor of the federal republic post-election, expresses not the typical optimism of an incoming leader but rather the stark realities conveyed by a candid commentator. “Unlike past federal elections,” Mr. Merz observes, this election is “characterized by significant uncertainty and turmoil.” Public sentiment mirrors his thoughts, with only 18% of Germans feeling that the country is heading in the right direction. The current election cycle in Europe’s largest economy is overshadowed by an unprecedented wave of concern.