Or maybe it hasn’t. Let’s see.

If Angie Merkel’s CDU loses today’s big regional election in big North North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) big time, it would mean an end to her coalition’s majority in the upper house of parliament, the Bundesrat.

This would threaten long-promised tax cuts and health system reforms. And you know how it is; a long-promised promise is a long-promised promise.

And that would be the “change has come to Germany” part, see? It wouldn’t really change much of anything, in other words.

With the economic crisis dominating the campaign, Mrs Merkel tried to delay a decision on the hugely unpopular rescue package for Greece until after the poll, but failed. Meanwhile, local councils are sinking into debt. Kindergarten fees have gone up, libraries and swimming-pools are closing.