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Angela Merkel celebrates after German election Angela Merkel celebrates after German election
(35 minutes later)
Angela Merkel has urged her party to celebrate "a super result" after exit polls suggested she was set to win a third term as German chancellor.Angela Merkel has urged her party to celebrate "a super result" after exit polls suggested she was set to win a third term as German chancellor.
Her conservatives took about 42% of the vote, the polls said. TV projections said that might almost be enough for a historic absolute majority.Her conservatives took about 42% of the vote, the polls said. TV projections said that might almost be enough for a historic absolute majority.
Otherwise Mrs Merkel might have to seek a grand coalition with the Social Democrats - estimated to have won 26%.Otherwise Mrs Merkel might have to seek a grand coalition with the Social Democrats - estimated to have won 26%.
Her preferred liberal partners appear not to have made it into parliament.Her preferred liberal partners appear not to have made it into parliament.
Exit polls for ARD public television put the liberal Free Democrats (FDP) on 4.7%, which if confirmed would be a disaster for the junior coalition partner, leaving it with no national representation in parliament.Exit polls for ARD public television put the liberal Free Democrats (FDP) on 4.7%, which if confirmed would be a disaster for the junior coalition partner, leaving it with no national representation in parliament.
Senior party member Christian Lindner called it "the bitterest hour". Party chairman Philipp Roesler called it "the bitterest, saddest hour of the Free Democratic Party".
The FDP was beaten by the Green Party (8%) and the former communist Left Party (8.5%), and even, according to exit polls, the new Alternative fuer Deutschland, which advocates withdrawal from the euro currency and took 4.9%, just short of the parliamentary threshold.The FDP was beaten by the Green Party (8%) and the former communist Left Party (8.5%), and even, according to exit polls, the new Alternative fuer Deutschland, which advocates withdrawal from the euro currency and took 4.9%, just short of the parliamentary threshold.
There was some speculation on German television that Mrs Merkel's Christian Democrats (CDU) and their Bavarian sister CSU might even win enough seats for an absolute majority - the first in half a century - if both the FDP and AfD fail to make it into parliament.There was some speculation on German television that Mrs Merkel's Christian Democrats (CDU) and their Bavarian sister CSU might even win enough seats for an absolute majority - the first in half a century - if both the FDP and AfD fail to make it into parliament.
The ARD channel's projection had her group winning 297 seats against 301 for the other three parties, while ZDF had her dead even with the other three.The ARD channel's projection had her group winning 297 seats against 301 for the other three parties, while ZDF had her dead even with the other three.
'Something fantastic''Something fantastic'
Mrs Merkel addressed jubilant supporters at CDU headquarters. After waiting for chants of "Angie, Angie" to die down, she told them: "This is a super result."Mrs Merkel addressed jubilant supporters at CDU headquarters. After waiting for chants of "Angie, Angie" to die down, she told them: "This is a super result."
"We can celebrate tonight because we have done something fantastic.""We can celebrate tonight because we have done something fantastic."
But, in a reference to coalition building, she said it was "too early to say exactly what we'll do".But, in a reference to coalition building, she said it was "too early to say exactly what we'll do".
"We have a clear mandate from voters to form a government," said Volker Kauder, leader of the CDU's parliamentary group. The outcome showed that "voters want Angela Merkel to remain chancellor" for a third term, he said."We have a clear mandate from voters to form a government," said Volker Kauder, leader of the CDU's parliamentary group. The outcome showed that "voters want Angela Merkel to remain chancellor" for a third term, he said.
Mrs Merkel has made clear she would be prepared to work with the Social Democrats (SPD) in a grand coalition, as she did in 2005-09.Mrs Merkel has made clear she would be prepared to work with the Social Democrats (SPD) in a grand coalition, as she did in 2005-09.
The SPD has been more reluctant to consider linking up with the CDU/CSU again. The party leader, Peer Steinbrueck, was finance minister in the previous grand coalition, but has said he would not serve in such a government again.The SPD has been more reluctant to consider linking up with the CDU/CSU again. The party leader, Peer Steinbrueck, was finance minister in the previous grand coalition, but has said he would not serve in such a government again.
After the exit polls were released, but before official results were confirmed, Mr Steinbrueck conceded that it would be up to Mrs Merkel to decide how to proceed saying: "The ball is in Mrs Merkel's court. She has to get herself a majority."After the exit polls were released, but before official results were confirmed, Mr Steinbrueck conceded that it would be up to Mrs Merkel to decide how to proceed saying: "The ball is in Mrs Merkel's court. She has to get herself a majority."
The BBC's Chris Morris, at Social Democrat headquarters, said Mr Steinbrueck was putting a brave face on it but the atmosphere was subdued.The BBC's Chris Morris, at Social Democrat headquarters, said Mr Steinbrueck was putting a brave face on it but the atmosphere was subdued.
The SPD would have preferred to enter a coalition with the Green Party, but does not appear to have the votes to do so, and has ruled out a three-way alliance including the Left Party (Die Linke).The SPD would have preferred to enter a coalition with the Green Party, but does not appear to have the votes to do so, and has ruled out a three-way alliance including the Left Party (Die Linke).
Analysts think the SPD will probably agree to a coalition with the CDU/CSU.Analysts think the SPD will probably agree to a coalition with the CDU/CSU.
Turnout, projected at about 72%, was higher than at the last federal election - which had the worst on record.Turnout, projected at about 72%, was higher than at the last federal election - which had the worst on record.