A new government with radical ambitions could soon be installed in Germany. Pay special attention to news emanating from Berlin.

What’s currently unfolding will have global ramifications!

Newswires are buzzing this week with reports that Angela Merkel’s chancellorship is on its last legs. Citing German daily Der Spiegel, the New York Timesreported Monday that Merkel’s administration is a “government in ruins,” and that “no one would bet on a long duration for this government, not even Merkel’s faithful.”

Merkel’s approval ratings are at their lowest levels since she became chancellor in 2005. A poll yesterday showed that only 40 percent of Germans are satisfied with her performance, and that a paltry 12 percent are satisfied with Germany’s coalition government. Less than a quarter of the populace believes the coalition will last till elections in 2013, while nearly half think new elections are necessary.

For Merkel, it’s not just her tanking popularity with everyday Germans that is distressing. A recent survey of 750 German elites, including top business leaders and politicians, found that 92 percent were disappointed with the chancellor’s government. Half said Merkel is a weak leader, and more than three in four said the coalition was too weak to confront Germany’s problems.

The elites, remember, are the people of real power and influence inside Germany.

Commenting on Merkel’s fractious coalition, fdp politician Jörg-Uwe Hahn stated, “Either we get our act together or it will be the end of the coalition soon.” Reasonable advice, but is it too late? Germans are now questioning whether reconciliation between the coalition partners is even possible. “[U]p to now, the coalition has managed to disagree on everything—the budget, health reform, how to help the struggling carmaker Opel,” noted Sabine Rennefanz on guardian.co.uk. Ever since Merkel partnered with the Free Democratic Party (fdp) last September, she has appeared “remarkably weak—almost paralyzed, and unable to control the constant arguing of the coalition members,” wrote Rennefanz.

It appears Merkel and her coalition government have crumbled beyond repair.

For Germans, the timing couldn’t be worse. Europe is facing its greatest financial crisis since the 1930s. The German people want a strong, stable government that will defend their interests and further Germany’s position in Europe. Instead, Berlin is paralyzed and beset by bickering. The German media have become a forum for character assassination, accusations and juvenile name-calling. The Christian Socialist Union (csu) is like a “wild sow,” the fdp stated recently. The csu retorted by labeling fdp members “cucumber troops,” a German idiom meaning a bunch of idiots.

Not exactly the worst insults, but they are evidence of the frustration and tension swamping Berlin. Experts expect the situation to grow worse too, particularly as the June 30 election of the new German president nears. Although the role of president is largely ceremonial, the election by secret ballot of the German parliament and representatives from the states will be a test of the confidence in Merkel’s chancellorship.

Merkel’s favored choice for the position is Christian Wulff, prime minister of the state of Lower Saxony. The opposition’s candidate for the job is Joachim Gauck, a charismatic politician who is quite popular even among some of Merkel’s coalition partners. Analysts say that if a couple dozen Merkel supporters break rank and vote for Gauck (which is quite possible), Merkel’s chancellorship would be done for.

Such an outcome, the New York Times observed, would “effectively serve as a no-confidence vote for the chancellor.”

“[R]evolt is in the air,” notedDer Spiegel. With her coalition crumbling, June 30 could be “Merkel’s Waterloo.”

“New elections are now in the heads and hearts of everyone who thinks about political responsibility,” said Renate Künast, chairwoman of the opposition Greens, on Monday in the daily Süddeutsche Zeitung.

Although Merkel, her party and the fdp, including Germany’s vice chancellor and Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle, are deeply unpopular, not all politicians in Berlin are in the Germans’ bad books. With an approval rating of 68 percent, Defense Minister Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg is far and away Germany’s most popular politician. Merkel’s apparently imminent end could provide Guttenberg with a prime opportunity.

Interestingly, reports have surfaced in the past week indicating that Guttenberg is thinking of resigning, citing a lack of support from Merkel. Don’t fall for it. Guttenberg does not intend to bench himself permanently from German politics. He’s 38 years old, at the peak of his political career, and he enjoys the support of an overwhelming number of Germans. Why retire now? More than likely—and whether he retires literally or not—Guttenberg is merely retiring his support of Angela Merkel.

Watch Guttenberg: This may all be part of a canny strategy to position himself to be Merkel’s successor!

Three months ago, the Trumpet surveyed the political and financial tumult in Europe and wrote: “Navigating these shoals in the time ahead will be a challenge, particularly for Chancellor Merkel. As the incumbent, she will likely bear much of the blame for the bickering and commotion besetting her coalition …. Watch Merkel closely; she’s already losing supporters, and one wrong turn could leave her shipwrecked.”

Clearly Merkel has failed to successfully navigate those deadly shoals—and now her chancellorship is shipwrecked!

The question now is, who will replace her, and how will this new government affect Germany? Once again, the Trumpet relies on Bible prophecy to furnish the answer. A prophecy in Daniel 8 tells us that a unique individual with a powerful personality will arise to assume control of a united European empire. As the late Herbert W. Armstrong taught, this leader will come from a strong and vibrant Germany. This individual is described specifically in Daniel 8:23-25. This indicates that he will be a strongman, a king of fierce countenance, and a man of cunning, subtle, dishonest and highly dangerous character and leadership.

We’ve said it before, but we’ll say it again. Keep your eyes on Germany—conditions are now ripe for the emergence of this radical individual!