Moreover, as a leading member of the Bundesrat, Germany's upper house, where the Social Democrats have lost their majority, Mr Biedenkopf could be well placed to help mediate and negotiate.

ECONOMIST: Kurt Biedenkopf, king of Saxony

His ability to implement unpopular reforms will anyway be limited by the opposition conservatives' control of the Bundesrat, the upper house of the legislature, where Germany's 16 states are represented.

ECONOMIST: German politics

All Germany's Land barons have big leverage thanks to their seats in the Bundesrat, the second chamber of the Bonn parliament, which can veto some government bills and delay others.

ECONOMIST: Germany