27 Sep 2021

German elections lead to tight result

From Nine To Noon, 9:50 am on 27 September 2021

The 2021 German federal election was held over the weekend to elect the members of the 20th Bundestag. The main political parties in Germany are virtually neck and neck and will need to put together a coalition to form the next government. Exit polls are predicting a tie for first place, as Angela Merkel retires after 16 years leading the country. The centre-left leader of the social democrats, Olaf Scholz, believes he will be the next German chancellor. Olaf Scholz's main rival is Armin Laschet, the leader of Ms Merkel's centre right Christian Democrats. 

A voter casts his ballot papers for the German federal elections at a polling station in Gutach near Freiburg in the Black Forest region, southern Germany

A voter casts his ballot papers for the German federal elections at a polling station in Gutach near Freiburg in the Black Forest region, southern Germany Photo: AFP