- Title: Polls open to vote for a new chancellor in Germany
- Date: 26th September 2021
- Summary: MUNICH, GERMANY (SEPTEMBER 26, 2021) (REUTERS) SIGN ON CONCRETE PORT READING (German) POLLING STATION PAN TO POLLING STATION CORONA REGULATIONS BEING TAPED ONTO WALL POLLING STATION EXTERIOR SIGN BEING STUCK ON POLLING STATION, VARIOUS VOTER ARRIVING AT POLLING STATION (SOUNDBITE) (German) BAERBEL HAHN, SAYING: "I didn't watch it on TV at the end anymore, I was so annoyed by it because one says one thing, one says another, and they discussed a lot about many things which I hope they stick to later and don't just talk about it before the elections. And I think many things were not discussed that are critical and that will only come now after the election." PEOPLE QUEUING UP AT POLLING STATION (SOUNDBITE) (German) JULIUS WEBER, SAYING: "It was a bit complicated, the candidates did not make it easy on us. We all had a bit of an impression that none of them are really suited to for the job as next chancellor. But I just put down my cross twice for the same party and I just hope they don't disappoint me." MAN INSIDE POLLING STATION SORTING HIS PAPERS (SOUNDBITE) (German) SEVERIN SCHENDEL, SAYING: "It wasn't hot hard at all. I found it very simple because there was no alternative. To me, there was only one party that was an option." PEOPLE QUEUING UP AT POLLING STATION VARIOUS OF WOMAN GOING TO VOTE POLLING BOOTH VARIOUS OF WOMAN VOTING VARIOUS OF MAN VOTING MAN GOING TO VOTE VOTE BEING DROPPED INTO BOX WOMAN REGISTERING TO VOTE
- Embargoed: 10th October 2021 07:41
- Keywords: Germany Merkel election polls open vote voting
- Location: MUNICH, GERMANY
- City: MUNICH, GERMANY
- Country: Germany
- Topics: Europe,Government/Politics,Elections/Voting
- Reuters ID: LVA001EWCU1QF
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Polls opened all over Germany for the German national election on Sunday that looks too close to call, with the centre-left Social Democrats (SPD) mounting a strong challenge to retiring Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservatives.
It was still somewhat dark when the first voters came to cast their votes, some tired of the campaigning and glad to be able to put a cross in the box.
"I didn't watch it on TV at the end anymore, I was so annoyed by it because one says one thing, one says another, and they discussed a lot about many things which I hope they stick to later and don't just talk about it before the elections. And I think many things were not discussed that are critical and that will only come now after the election," said Baerbel Hahn.
Julius Weber added: "It was a bit complicated, the candidates did not make it easy on us. We all had a bit of an impression that none of them are really suited for the job as next chancellor. But I just put down my cross twice for the same party and I just hope they don't disappoint me."
Incumbent Chancellor Merkel has been in power since 2005 but plans to step down after the election, making the vote an era-changing event to set the future course of Europe's largest economy.
After a domestic-focused election campaign, Berlin's allies in Europe and beyond may have to wait for months before they can see whether the new German government is ready to engage on foreign issues to the extent they would like.
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).
Both the conservatives and the FDP reject a European "debt union" and want to ensure that joint European Union borrowing to finance the bloc's coronavirus recovery package remains a one-off. The SPD has talked about taking steps towards a fiscal union.
The Greens favour a common European fiscal policy to support investment in the environment, research, infrastructure, and education.
(Production: Ayhan Uyanik, Ralph Brock, Gabi Sajonz, Ute Swart) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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