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Merkel 'heads for' new coalition Merkel 'heads for' new coalition
(9 minutes later)
Chancellor Angela Merkel has been returned to power in Germany, exit polls suggest, after her conservative bloc won more than 33% of the vote.Chancellor Angela Merkel has been returned to power in Germany, exit polls suggest, after her conservative bloc won more than 33% of the vote.
Mrs Merkel told supporters they had achieved "something magnificent", but said she wanted to be a chancellor of all Germans at a moment of crisis.Mrs Merkel told supporters they had achieved "something magnificent", but said she wanted to be a chancellor of all Germans at a moment of crisis.
Mrs Merkel's bloc now looks set to form a centre-right alliance with her preferred partner, the pro-reform FDP.Mrs Merkel's bloc now looks set to form a centre-right alliance with her preferred partner, the pro-reform FDP.
She says the alliance will get Germany out of its worst crisis in 60 years.
Her rival, SPD leader Frank Walter Steinmeier, admitted a "bitter defeat".Her rival, SPD leader Frank Walter Steinmeier, admitted a "bitter defeat".
He said his party would be "vigilant in opposition".He said his party would be "vigilant in opposition".
"The voters have decided and the result is a bitter day for German Social Democracy ... there is no way of talking it up - the result is a bitter defeat," the SPD leader said."The voters have decided and the result is a bitter day for German Social Democracy ... there is no way of talking it up - the result is a bitter defeat," the SPD leader said.
The BBC's Steve Rosenberg in Berlin says the result seems a disaster for the Social Democrats (SPD), who could have their lowest share of the vote since World War II.The BBC's Steve Rosenberg in Berlin says the result seems a disaster for the Social Democrats (SPD), who could have their lowest share of the vote since World War II.
HEWITT ON EUROPE This looks like a significant victory for Angela Merkel... Now she has more room to be bold if she chooses Read Gavin Hewitt's thoughts in fullHEWITT ON EUROPE This looks like a significant victory for Angela Merkel... Now she has more room to be bold if she chooses Read Gavin Hewitt's thoughts in full
The SPD have shared power with Mrs Merkel's CDU/CSU in an awkward grand coalition since the last elections in 2005.The SPD have shared power with Mrs Merkel's CDU/CSU in an awkward grand coalition since the last elections in 2005.
Preliminary results are expected in the next few hours.Preliminary results are expected in the next few hours.
Mrs Merkel has said that her new alliance, with the pro-business Free Democrats (FDP) will get Europe's biggest economy out of its deepest crisis since World War II.
An exit poll for ZDF television gave the CDU/CSU 33.5%, SPD 23.5% and the FDP, Mrs Merkel's preferred partners, 14.5%.An exit poll for ZDF television gave the CDU/CSU 33.5%, SPD 23.5% and the FDP, Mrs Merkel's preferred partners, 14.5%.
This would give the centre-right alliance, with 48% in total, a narrow majority over the SPD and the two other major parties, the Greens and the Left, both of which increased their share of the vote.This would give the centre-right alliance, with 48% in total, a narrow majority over the SPD and the two other major parties, the Greens and the Left, both of which increased their share of the vote.
"A black-yellow coalition looks set, we have reached our goal," said CDU general secretary Volker Kauder, quoted by AFP news agency. "We have achieved our goal of gaining a stable majority for a new government," a smiling Mrs Merkel told cheering supporters in Berlin.
"I want to be the chancellor of all Germans, so that things improve for our country, especially in such a moment of crisis."
ZDF TV EXIT POLL FIGURES CDU/CSU: 33.5%SPD: 23.5%FDP: 14.5%Left party: 13%Green party: 10%ZDF TV EXIT POLL FIGURES CDU/CSU: 33.5%SPD: 23.5%FDP: 14.5%Left party: 13%Green party: 10%
Exit polls in Germany, Europe's largest economy and the biggest member of the European Union, are generally considered to be extremely reliable.Exit polls in Germany, Europe's largest economy and the biggest member of the European Union, are generally considered to be extremely reliable.
The campaign has been overshadowed by security concerns following a series of al-Qaeda messages warning Germany to pull some 4,200 troops out of Afghanistan.The campaign has been overshadowed by security concerns following a series of al-Qaeda messages warning Germany to pull some 4,200 troops out of Afghanistan.