Schroeder on the way out?

2005-09-18 18:27

Berlin - Challenger Angela Merkel leads Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder in TV exit polls after voting ended on Sunday in Germany's hard-fought elections - but she is unlikely to have enough seats to set up a new centre-right government.

"Her dreams are shattered," said veteran ZDF reporter Peter Hahne.

Merkel's Christian Democratic alliance (CDU/CSU) are at 37% and her Free Democratic (FDP) ally is projected to get 10.5%, said ZDF TV. An ARD projection gave the CDU/CSU 35.5% and the FDP 10.5%.

This would give Merkel's bloc a total of 47.5% (ZDF) and 46% (ARD) meaning she will likely be forced to seek a grand coalition with Schroeder's Social Democrats (SPD).

Schroeder's ruling SPD are likely to win 33% with their Greens coalition partner at 8 per cent, said ZDF. The ARD exit polls gave the SPD 34% and the Greens 8.5%.

These figures make it clear that Schroeder's government has no chance of being returned to office in its present form.

The new Left Party - comprised of former East Germany's communists and a western protest group - is at 8% in ZDF and 7.5% according to ARD.

- SAPA