Is Bankfurt set to ignore the euro?

THE ALCHEMIST

Stand on Willy Brandt Square in Frankfurt am Main, Germany, and you cannot miss the towering sculpture ahead of you.

It is not of the former West German Chancellor, after whom the square is named and who worked tirelessly to reintegrate his nation into Europe after the war. Instead, it is an immense euro symbol, representing another attempt after Brandt’s to integrate Europe more fully. Unlike the real thing, this euro, which illuminates at night along with the stars which adorn it, is not in danger of fragmenting. It is not tarnished, and did not lose up to 20% of its value against the US dollar since the financial crisis in 2008/2009. So it seems ironic the single currency’s main challenge at pres...