Germany is in a sorry state – and all our leaders can do is yell at each other | Jörg Lau

Snap elections will be a referendum on Scholz's failed coalition. But our leaderless drift is disastrous for Europe

It was certainly not one of those rather bland debates the Bundestag, the German parliament, is deservedly known for. On Monday, Olaf Scholz, the German chancellor, and his challengers were hurling insults at each other in the hallowed halls of the Reichstag.

It was the last day of Scholz's coalition government and he lost the vote of confidence that he had called for, which means the country is heading for early federal elections on 23 February.

Jorg Lau is an international correspondent for the German weekly Die Zeit