GERMANY: POLITICS - Free Democrats (FDP) celebrate after election exit polls appear to show they can form government with Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservatives

Record ID: 816899

  • Title: GERMANY: POLITICS - Free Democrats (FDP) celebrate after election exit polls appear to show they can form government with Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservatives
  • Date: 28th September 2009
  • Summary: BERLIN, GERMANY (SEPTEMBER 27, 2009) (REUTERS) FREE DEMOCRAT (FDP) SUPPORTERS CELEBRATING AND CLAPPING FDP SUPPORTERS JUMPING UP AND DOWN FDP SUPPORTERS HOLDING FDP PARTY BANNER READING "GERMANY CAN DO IT BETTER"
  • Embargoed: 13th October 2009 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Germany
  • Country: Germany
  • Topics: Domestic Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVABGJVSKFLKKCF8TZZLK93B5KTA
  • Story Text: Germany's Free Democrats (FDP) celebrated in Berlin on Sunday (September 27) after exit polls showed they were likely to be able to form a centre-right government with Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservatives.
    An exit poll from ZDF television put support for Merkel's conservative bloc -- her Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and the Bavarian Christian Social Union (CSU) -- at 33.5 percent and showed the FDP on 14.5 percent. A poll for ARD television gave the centre-right an even clearer win.
    Together, their total exceeded that of the other three main parties combined, putting Merkel on track for a second term and suggesting she will be able to end her awkward "grand coalition" with the rival Social Democrats (SPD).
    As head of a centre-right government with the business-friendly FDP, Merkel would be expected to push for tax relief and extend the lifespan of German nuclear plants.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2011. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
Register