Tornado Alley (PROG)

[fuagf]

German election live: Social Democrats secure narrow win as CDU plunges to historic low

"Germany coronavirus: Hundreds arrested in German 'anti-corona' protests
"Germany and France announce new national lockdowns, saying they have lost control of the coronavirus
"Why US schools can't follow the example of Germany and Denmark, in charts" "

Official preliminary results show SPD secured 25.7% of the vote and CDU won 24.1%

* German election results: exit polls and possible coalitions
https://www.theguardian.com/world/ng-interactive/2021/sep/26/german-election-results-exit-poll-and-possible-coalitions


SPD supporters in Berlin cheer after the first forecasts were announced.
Photograph: Bernd Von Jutrczenka/AP

Helen Livingstone (now) and Jon Henley (earlier)

Mon 27 Sep 2021 15.24 AEST

LIVE Updated 24m ago

13h ago 02:24 - Here is Reuter’s first take on the nailbiting early exit polls:

Germany’s CDU/CSU conservatives and their Social Democrat rivals were tied in Sunday’s national election, an exit poll showed, leaving open which of them will lead the next government as Angela Merkel prepares to stand down after 16 years in power.

The CDU/CSU bloc won 25% of the vote, their weakest result in a post-war federal election and on a par with the centre-left Social Democrat (SPD), the infratest poll for broadcaster ARD showed. Other exit polls showed the SPD marginally ahead.

“That hurts,” CDU General Secretary Paul Ziemiak told ARD. Attention will now shift to informal discussions - likely with the Greens, on 15%, and liberal Free Democrats (FDP), on 11% - followed by more formal coalition negotiations, which could take months, leaving Merkel in charge in a caretaker role.

13h ago 02:19

Deutsche Welle’s chief political correspondent, Michaela Kuefner, captures the moment the first exit poll came through to CDU headquarters in Berlin showing the centre-right party neck-and-neck with the Social Democrats:

Michaela Kuefner
@MKuefner
Static moment of disbelief at Merkel‘s CDU part HQ
as first 18:00 CET Exit polls show them on a par with
the Social Democrat SPD. Both 25%
Still too early to call … long night ahead.
#GermanElections
VIDEO
2:07 AM · Sep 27, 2021
81 2 ...link to Tweet

14h ago 02:12 - Second exit poll puts Social Democrats marginally ahead

Just to confuse matters - and ratchet up the tension- further, a second exit poll for the broadcaster ZDF put the centre-left SPD on 26%, two points clear of Angela Merkel’s CDU/CSU on 24%.

That poll has the Greens on 14.5% and the FDP on 12%.

It’s going to be a long night ...

Updated at 2.24am AEST

14h ago 02:02 - Social Democrats and Merkel’s CDU tied in race to succeed outgoing chancellor, exit poll says

An early exit poll for the public proadcaster ARD suggests the centre-left SPD and centre-right CDU/CSU are neck-and-neck in the race to be the largest party in the Bundestag, with both predicted to win 25% of the vote.

Of potential coalition partners, the Greens are on course for 15% and the liberal, pro-business FDP party for 11%.

More - https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2021/sep/26/germany-election-2021-results-reaction-angela-merkel-era-ends-baerbock-scholz-laschet-spd-greens-cdu-live-latest-updates?page=with:block-61509af78f08c18553fe96dc