An election to elect the next successor of Angela Merkel as the next German Chancellor began on Sunday, 26th September 2021, and poll predictions point to the center left Social Democrat (SPD) who are holding a narrow lead ahead of Merkel’s party, center-right Christian Democratic Union (CDU).
According to latest polls the margin between the two parties is too close to call.
As a result of Germany’s complicated voting system coupled with the closeness of the polls it may take some time before the ultimate winner is known.
On Saturday, the CDU candidate, Armin Laschet held a final campaign with Merkel. A boy presented Merkel with a gingerbread heart iced with the inscription, ”thank you CDU”. and another sympathizer gave her a cake decorated with a picture of her trade mark rhombus hand gesture.
Merkel who addressed the crowd on Saturday said the election is all about the country remaining ”stable” and ensuring “that the youth have a future and we can live in prosperity.”
The opposition candidate Olaf Scholz of the Social Democrats also held his last rally in his constituency in Potsdam. He has been serving the country since 2018 as the Vice-Chancellor and finance minister.