The existence of this Left Party is going to make it so much harder for either the centre-left on the one side or the centre-right on the other to form a coalition for a long time.
Things are increasingly pointing toward a grand coalition of the CDU/CSU and SPD. This seems like a trend that may firm up before voting day.
Both sides are faced with enormous pressure to make this coalition work. That involves concessions on both sides. What matters, though, is the joint will to actually start tackling the trouble spots.