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| Germany election: Merkel seeks fourth term | Germany election: Merkel seeks fourth term |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Germans head to the polls today for the country's federal elections, in a key test for Angela Merkel. | Germans head to the polls today for the country's federal elections, in a key test for Angela Merkel. |
| She is seeking a fourth term as chancellor, and to retain her Christian Democrat party's (CDU) status as the largest presence in Germany's Bundestag. | She is seeking a fourth term as chancellor, and to retain her Christian Democrat party's (CDU) status as the largest presence in Germany's Bundestag. |
| The CDU's coalition partner, the SPD, is its main opponent in the election. | The CDU's coalition partner, the SPD, is its main opponent in the election. |
| Polling stations will be open from 08:00 local time (06:00 GMT) until 18:00. | Polling stations will be open from 08:00 local time (06:00 GMT) until 18:00. |
| The first exit polls are expected shortly after the close of voting. | The first exit polls are expected shortly after the close of voting. |
| The election is seen as important because it may result in six parties in the Bundestag - the German national parliament - for the first time since World War Two. | The election is seen as important because it may result in six parties in the Bundestag - the German national parliament - for the first time since World War Two. |
| Such a result could mean a change in the makeup of the current governing coalition. | Such a result could mean a change in the makeup of the current governing coalition. |
| The top contenders | The top contenders |
| Angela Merkel: Widely expected to retain her seat, Mrs Merkel is seen internationally as a source of stability - having led Germany since 2005. Her decision to open Germany to asylum seekers during the peak of Europe's migrant crisis cost her politically, but she appears to have recovered | Angela Merkel: Widely expected to retain her seat, Mrs Merkel is seen internationally as a source of stability - having led Germany since 2005. Her decision to open Germany to asylum seekers during the peak of Europe's migrant crisis cost her politically, but she appears to have recovered |
| Martin Schulz: Leader of the centre-left SPD and Mrs Merkel's main rival, he is also her coalition partner - which has proved troublesome during the campaign, as he sought to criticise her politics | Martin Schulz: Leader of the centre-left SPD and Mrs Merkel's main rival, he is also her coalition partner - which has proved troublesome during the campaign, as he sought to criticise her politics |
| Alice Weidel and Alexander Gauland: The top candidates for the right-wing AfD. Achieving seats in the Bundestag - or potentially becoming the third-largest party, as some campaign polls suggested - would be a major victory | Alice Weidel and Alexander Gauland: The top candidates for the right-wing AfD. Achieving seats in the Bundestag - or potentially becoming the third-largest party, as some campaign polls suggested - would be a major victory |
| Martin Schulz, leader of the Social Democrats (SPD) and a former president of the European parliament, is Mrs Merkel's biggest rival for chancellor. | |
| But Mrs Merkel, with 12 years of experience in the office, is widely expected to retain her position. | But Mrs Merkel, with 12 years of experience in the office, is widely expected to retain her position. |
| Among the parties expected to win seats is the right-wing nationalist, anti-Islam Alternative for Germany (AfD) party. | Among the parties expected to win seats is the right-wing nationalist, anti-Islam Alternative for Germany (AfD) party. |
| The party has so far held seats only in regional government, but has grown in popularity during a campaign focused on immigration issues. | The party has so far held seats only in regional government, but has grown in popularity during a campaign focused on immigration issues. |
| Other significant contenders include Die Linke (the Left), the Greens, and the Free Democrats (FDP). | Other significant contenders include Die Linke (the Left), the Greens, and the Free Democrats (FDP). |
| Some 61.5 million people aged over 18 are eligible to vote in federal elections, which are held every four years. | Some 61.5 million people aged over 18 are eligible to vote in federal elections, which are held every four years. |
| There are two separate votes - one for a candidate in their constituency, and one for their preferred political party. | There are two separate votes - one for a candidate in their constituency, and one for their preferred political party. |