- Title: Conservative Laschet casts his ballot in German election
- Date: 26th September 2021
- Summary: AACHEN, GERMANY (SEPTEMBER 26, 2021) (REUTERS) CDU/CSU CHANCELLOR CANDIDATE ARMIN LASCHET AND HIS WIFE SUSANNE LASCHET ARRIVING TO VOTE VARIOUS OF LASCHET STANDING IN LINE VOTER CHECKING BALLOT PAPERS LASCHET RECEIVING HIS BALLOT PAPERS LASCHET VOTING VARIOUS OF LASCHET AND HIS WIFE IN LINE FOR VOTING LASCHET CASTING BALLOT / LASCHET LEAVING LASCHET AND HIS WIFE ARRIVING FOR STATEMENT (SOUNDBITE) (German) CDU/CSU CHANCELLOR CANDIDATE ARMIN LASCHET, SAYING: "We all feel that this is a very important federal election which will decide the future of Germany for the next years. And that is why every vote counts. Hence I hope that everybody makes use of their right to vote and go to the ballots so democrats can form a new government." (SOUNDBITE) (German) CDU/CSU CHANCELLOR CANDIDATE ARMIN LASCHET, SAYING: "It is an exciting day. And because it is such a tight race, every vote counts. Today is not the day for politician to speak but for the voters. Not a campaign day but a day for the voters. And in a democracy, that is the most important day." QUESTION FROM OFF: And now you are off to Berlin? "Yes, at some point we are off to Berlin. First home and then Berlin." / LASCHET WALKING OFF
- Embargoed: 10th October 2021 10:22
- Keywords: CDU German election Laschet Laschet voting
- Location: AACHEN, GERMANY
- City: AACHEN, GERMANY
- Country: Germany
- Topics: Europe,Government/Politics,Elections/Voting
- Reuters ID: LVA001EWCU2IV
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text:Christian Democratic Union (CDU) leader and top candidate for chancellor Armin Laschet and his wife Susanne Laschet casts their vote in Aachen on Sunday in a German national election that was too close to call.
"We all feel that this is a very important federal election which will decide the future of Germany for the next years," Laschet said after casting his vote, and urged again everybody to vote.
The centre-left Social Democrats (SPD) have been mounting a strong challenge to retiring Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservatives. Laschet's promise of "steadfastness" has not been resonating with voters worried about climate change, immigration and the COVID-19 pandemic. The conservatives trailed the Social Democrats in the latest opinion polls despite narrowing the gap.
Laschet, who worked as a journalist early in his career and later served as a lawmaker in the German and European parliaments, has been premier of North-Rhine Westphalia since mid-2017. He has been the CDU's leader since January.
The candidates ratings have suffered since he was caught on camera laughing during a visit to a flood-hit town in his home state of North-Rhine Westphalia in July.
The splintered political landscape means a three-way coalition is likely. Final opinion polls gave the Social Democrats a narrow lead, but the conservatives have reduced the gap in recent days and many voters were still undecided.
The most likely coalition scenarios see either the SPD or the conservative CDU/CSU bloc - whoever comes first - forming an alliance with the Greens and the liberal Free Democrats (FDP).
(Production: Stephane Nietschke, Andi Kranz, Ute Swart) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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