The 2010 presidential election.

The election was an early election. Horst Köhler, the incumbent president, resigned from his presidential chair, because some politicians, media and a lot of people attacked him in an unprecedented and disrespectful manner. In german, there is an idiom that says "To make a Horst out of someone" which means "to take a mickey out of someone". So Horst Köhlers name gave us a good reason to ask the legitimate question: "Out of who will Germany make the next Horst?"

The election finally became a head to head race. Two candidates where in the game - and no one was really shure who would make it. Both candidates names, Wulff and Gauck, have 5 letters. An ironic coincidence that was perfect for a very special crossword question, that maybe answered by reading the SZ. Translation: "next german president"