what now, frau merkel?ndrea'skluth, who says angela merkel is now a lame-duck and will get weaker as a four term progresses. but in a world of bullies, dictators, prima donna's, she last best hope. , ao with us is werner familiar figure. he believes europe needs angela merkel's leadership more than ever, but after her devastating election setback, she faces a desperately complex task of forming a new coalition. hu,a warm welcome to pascal she says with agues weakened angela merkel -- welcome to pascal hugues. let's begin with you, pascal. give us a little bit of the flavor of how the election outcome here in germany has gone down, with all the surprises it brought with it. shockingk it's a bit and probably a disappointment for emmanuel macron, who two days ago made a big speech about europe, presenting his vision of europe for the future, and he coalition,at the big the grand coalition, was re-conducted. he had a chance of realizing partly his program. but now it's going to be very , i think it's a bitter f

will win the seat next to merkel?lso with us, derek scally who writes for "the irish times." derek argues that merkel is facing serious unresolved challenges. he adds germany is sleepwalking through its next economic crisis. and a warm welcome to christine meier. she says no strategy against the .ar right afd party the challenge, however, might be an opportunity. interesting. i would like to begin with you, petra pinzler, and go to the international stage. there's talk of a nuclear war on the korean peninsula. trump, aired elan, and putin are kicking up trouble left, right, and center. germany is still mired in the refugee crisis. so much at stake, and german voters are mired in apathy. they are saying, i can't generate any enthusiasm for this election. what is going on? petra: what merkel did during the last couple years is pretetd that vototers don't have to care for politics. she just will deal with it. when you look at history, the last 12 years, it was all right. went quite well. if you look at the german situati

that is vintage angela merkel. i think we have seen her in four campaigns -- she is not the best communicator, not even the best campaigner, but governing is her forte. which, to me, makes the answer she gave to the question "what would you do differently" -- she said, we have to solve the problems that the individuals, the people told us were problems. o she wants to solve them. when asked about whether her party will now have two moved to the right because of the refugee issue, she corrected when asked about whether her the person who questioned her, to say, we do not have to move to the right. he said we have to close the ap to the right. she wants to do it themerkelian way, and not anybody else's way -- which is solve he problems her way. >> we know there has to be some sort of cloleligs. the fdp and the greens are the likely coalition partners. fdp in their press conference were quite gnomic, playing their cards close to the chest. the greens have said they are interested, and the spd has aid, we are not. ange

critics of angela merkel would say over recent yea rs angela merkel would say over recent years she'staking them on as her own. she may need to do that in coming weeks because she's going to need some help forming a coalition government. help may come from the social democrats. let's bring in damien mcguinness, live from their headquarters. this is a very disappointing result for the spd. that's right, certainly no clapping here, just glum faces. if these initial exit polls are correct, 20%, thatis initial exit polls are correct, 20%, that is the crucial mark. if the spd slips under 20%, it means it's more 01’ slips under 20%, it means it's more or less over for slips under 20%, it means it's more or less overfor this spd in slips under 20%, it means it's more or less over for this spd in this form as a major party in germany. it could be the worst election result the german social democrats have ever had. since the second world war. it would be so disappointing for the social democrats. there are a number of reasons why martin schulz, angela merkel‘s rivalfor chancellor, has done so

coalition with merkel c.d.u. for the past four years but leader martin short says that's about to change you see . this. ice dude in order to become the chancellor and that's why i didn't want to be a minister in the cabinet and that's why it is correct that i recommended to the speedy leadership that we should enter into a position. so with that in mind what coalitions are possible let's take a closer look at how the results break down merkel c.d.u. party won thirty four percent of seats in the wonder star and the s.p.d. won twenty one percent of the f.t. far right party was third with thirteen percent the remaining three parties all won around ten percent of seats in parliament merkel is largely expected to build her coalition with the pro-business f.t.p. party and the green party. well let's bring in our panel who all join us from berlin today day trek one cow is a retired german ambassador and former permanent representative to the e.u. thorsten bena is director of the global public policy institute and betha

i'm sure the chancellor, angela merkel, will win this election. >> reporter: merkel manages the biggest economy in europe. with a budget surplus for five straight years and record low unemployment, a recent poll found 64% of german voters approve of the job she's doing. talking to people on the subway in germany's capital, berlin, we found plenty of support for the chancellor. >> ( translated ):she has been good for germans. i like her very much. over the course of the years, i think it's very good what she has done. >> she's more of a conservative, but she often made the... made the right choice, i think. >> but for the country, in general, i think she made the right choices. >> reporter: her choice in 2015, to admit more than a million migrants and refugees from the middle east and africa, has defined this election. >> she thought at this particular time it was a humanitarian responsibility. >> reporter: reuters' berlin correspondent, andreas rinke, has covered merkel since she was first elected chancellor in 2005 and has written the book, "the merkel lexikon." he says merkel wanted t

if angela merkel wa nts representation.idence of challenges ahead in negotiations, the free democrats, one of the parties who she will be looking to talk to, have said they have a number of priorities here, the eu must not bail out other states failures. it also talks about the cdu, social democrats and greens being indistinguishable and that its supporters want a different politics. already there is tough talk on these negotiations are likely to be long and detailed. let's get a full report now on the election so far with our berlin correspondentjenny hill. angela merkel knew she'd win this election, but it's not the victory she'd hoped for. exit polls suggest support for her party is now lower than it's ever been under her leadership. a verdict perhaps on her decision to open germany's doors to hundreds of thousands of refugees. translation: let's not beat about the bush. of course we'd hoped for a better result, but let's not forget we've just had a very challenging four years. that's why i'm happy to say we achieved the

oh i think a lot has to be changed i for one am not a fan of merkel no one that i know is a fan of merkel and i hope that we will cause a big change. there is a variety of opinions out there but really the voters can be divided into several distinct groups the merkel fireman's those who are very happy with the status quo i would be happy in fact to see another c.s.u. c.d.u. coalition with another party those who want to change and some fresh faces but within the confines of really mainstream political consensus leading to all centrist center left of center right close in place because of the social democrats or perhaps the f.d.p. the party those voting for fringe parties and those voting to stop those fringe parties coming to power i think we all know who those fringe parties are the concern for many here is that the deal terms of for germany party may get their first seats in parliament that will be the first time in german modern history since the second world war a fact that a party seen by many as far right would get seats in the in the event of a coalition they have had a late surge

the resurgence of the rise in germany chancellor angela merkel. for the first time since the nazis and nationalist party has members of parliament and merkel's main rival would want to have to expect strong opposition how will the veteran be to govern this time this story. and welcome to the program as a broad them she was expected to win and she did but i'm going to merkel's reelection victory in germany on sunday is better sweet the chancellor's christian democratic union won thirty four percent of seats in the parliament one to stalin that's enough to be the biggest party but not for a majority government so she'll start talks to build a coalition at the same time eccles contending with a surge of support for the a.f.p. the nationalists won the largest far right representation in parliament since headless nazis in the 1940's we get to our guests in just a moment but first law and has more from berlin. the most important politician in europe the most important female politician anywhere the flag bearer for liberal democracy in an uncertain world

bungle merkel wins a fourth term as chancellor of germany but it's not her c.d.u. party that is celebrating. the immigration alternative for germany party takes third place in the federal election entering parliament for the first time. and it's a night of disappointment for martin schultz and his social democratic party with their lowest share of the vote since world war two. are broadcasting live from our studios in moscow this is our two international i'm sean thomas with special coverage of the german elections let's get right to it so there is a shift of power in the buddhist stogie after a close fought campaign on his election team has been following all of the developments from berlin. welcome to our special coverage of the german election live here from all studio in berlin with me makes me eric tens of millions of voters have now decided how they want hollywood to live in europe's most powerful nation angela merkel is on course for a fourth term as chancellor merkel said to be the night of disappointment closest rival last insults and a time for celebratio

vowed to go have after chancellor merkel over her migrant and refugee policy. historical moment for the afd. it earned 13.5% of the vote making the country's third strongest party. the reason to celebrate for the far right party and its supporters. this is a great day in the histstory of our party. we did it. we are in the german parliament and we will change this country. the afd's unprecedented success has largely been seen as a backlash against angela merkel's immigration policy. in 2015 she welcomed one million migrants and refugees many of whom were muslims fleeing violent conflict in the middle east. the manifesto says islam does not belong in germany. the party called for banning the burqa and foreign funding of mosques in germany and introducing permanent border control. nationalist party also believes germany should be proud of its history including soldiers that thought in both world wars a true -- a view that has drawn criticism. it is the first time since world war ii the far right party has earned see. >> voters in iraqi kurdistan are casting their

before and by the way isn't just a pretty face he could confront merkel on some key issues. if peace prevails refugees must return there's no such human right for cheese in your place in the world i'm not being harsh this is lauren realism speaking. even with lynn this handshake in the bag merkel might still need extra help to get her over the winning line and that's why the green party could come into the fold with their top candidate dubbed green angular similarities to. this cd you f.t.p. and the greens would make an exotic mix known as the gym a coalition which is never made it to national government before so in case you're wondering why there's no clear winner come monday morning well the details of the final coalition contract could take weeks to finalize the system is complicated but it is considered the fairest of them all for a vote is it can be frustrating though occasionally political parties end up breaking campaign promises and in germany there's always the convenient excuse that it was all their coalition partners fault. refugees should not have been allowed i

that is vintage angela merkel. i think we have seen her in four campaigns -- she is not the best communicator, not even the best campaigner, but governing is her forte. which, to me, makes the answer she gave to the question "what would you do differently" -- she said, we have to solve the problems that the individuals, the people told us were problems. when asked about whether her party will now have two moved to the right because of the refugee issue, she corrected the person who questioned her, to say, we do not have to move to the right. he said we have to close the gap to the right. she wants to do with the anybodyn way, and not else's way -- which is solve the problems her way. >> we know there has to be some sort of massive coalition. the fdp and the greens are the likely coalition partners. fdp in their press conference were quite gnomic, playing their cards close to the chest. the greens have said they are interested, and the spd has said, we are not. angela merkel -- it takes a bit b a moral lack male --

in an exclusive interview chancellor merkel tells d.w. that diplomacy is the only way forward with pyongyang also in the program hope and heroism in mexico as efforts continue to find survivors in the rubble of tuesday's powerful earthquake we'll go to mexico city for the latest. and hurricane maria paralyzes puerto rico leaving much of the u.s. territory without power or communications it's the worst storm to hit the island to been eighty years. hello and welcome i'm terry martin good to have you with us germany's chancellor has spoken out on the north korea crisis just days ahead before germany's general election head of john john. it is gen x. and i'm going to michael said she disagrees with u.s. president donald trump's military ultimatum to north korea in an exclusive interview with g w merkel offered germany's assistance in negotiating a diplomatic solution on tuesday trump told the u.n. that america would destroy north korea if it continued to threaten the united states and its allies. promising is the only way to solve the north k

as you heard i'm going to merkel has booed and whistled while she was trying to win over any floating voters in munich around two hundred protesters heckled the chancellor a number were arrested. to help you better understand the ins and outs of the german election system our tea party boy has put together a quick guide for you. unless you'll season didn't german politics understanding the ins and outs of the election isn't exactly a piece of cake for starters each person will be asked to cost not one but two votes the first for a district representative the other for their preferred political party then comes the magic of proportional representation with each party's share of the vote translated to seats won in the bundestag the complex system prevents a single party from winning an outright majority so unlike in the us or france where the very usually produces one clear winner even once the german results are in this still the mystery of who teams up with who to build a ruling coalition polls put marcos party the christian democratic union well out in front and martin short says soc

if it works it's worth stealing for the first time merkel's. campaign books plus the with the national flag. is a symbol and nationalist anti immigrant opposition. we are in times where right wing populists are stronger and we don't want to leave patriotism to these people in twelve years merkel has practiced her tricks to the fiction yet the problems. is becoming harder and harder to. get she says she's. not going to shine shah. leave you might leave me and went against him. ok let's take a look now at how germany has been readying to head to the polls and what we could expect from tomorrow's vote across everything is our correspondent john hawkins is also with me in berlin down it's want to know what's the anticipation like heading in to the voting what do you think is going to be the big issues that could decide this. well neal the last political campaign rallies of course were held yesterday an election which is unlike you really to hold any groundbreaking surprises some commentators are saying we could see an expected result like you know

i believe in angela merkel was it. i believe in angela merkel was it.use i think she isn't here with the same position as ten yea rs isn't here with the same position as ten years before. she has the same values and the same principles, but she is translating her position to the actual challenges, and i think thatis the actual challenges, and i think that is something which is really healthy. but of course i think the government, which is covered by the biggest two parties, isn't healthy for the democratic systems. just behind us, the beautiful reichstag building, insight, the bundestag, for the first time since the 1950s will see a right—wing nationalist party represented. how do you think the afd will approach opposition?- be honest i think they will be very shrill, is there a word like that? they will be very loud. the top candidate of the afd said earlier this week, we are going to track down the government, we are going to hunt them, sol down the government, we are going to hunt them, so i really think they are going to put a lot into the language.

we are going to stop a commission of inquiry against chancellor merkel. which will clearly look into what they say lady has done to contravene little doc was another reason why we went into a problem and ladies and parker. we have come to stay. well. so let us accept this office with humility with care. to all future members of parliament. always be aware of your response ability of what we have to do the for this country and for the voters who trusted us we owed them and we will deliver many many fine. i. mean i'm still. alive. well you know what. i look at it all. i know i'm. right i'm yeah. i'm. right i'm happy to have a picture of three of us but let's make five in this sentence because she's the most attractive and. how do you come to my explaining prose with this from the f.t. as well but you wish you were there so thank you for being with us tonight to give us your insight not just about the success as it seems to have been of your politics tonight but ramifications of the other results of the come through tonight and some of the failures as well.

yeah a big thing if the polls are right angle of merkel heading for four more years but . welcome to our special election coverage live from the heart of berlin with me kevin and me nikki erin hello now the results of sunday's vote will determine whether chancellor angela merkel will remain in power for a fourth term it's going to get old picture this election sixty one of the half million people able to vote those polling stations open it's poker morning so let's go now in case you missed any of the build up to this we've squeezed together the highlights of the election season for just fifty seconds. and. i was. here as a. funniest. man a downside of a few people. fucked up the whole question hunch thing that's what i do these are. what i'm going to find that. i disappear to skip to. the final campaign rallies have taken place in major cities across the country with candidates doing that most to breathe new life into their political image. quite literally the chancellor angela merkel showing her first aid skills at a rally in northern germany to the sounds of resilience y

oh i think a lot has to be changed i for one am not a fan of merkel no one that i know is a fan of merkel and i hope this will cause a change i think many commentators would agree there's no deep divisions or heated passions for this election but really the voters can be divided into several distinct groups the michael's fans who think the c.d.u. is the way for they're happy with the status quo those who feel it was the for change and for some fresh faces but within the confines of mainstream political discourse perhaps voting for the the social democrats or the freedom democratic party a few people within the centrist framework those voting for fringe parties and those voting to stop those fringe parties being with the d. they've made some surprise last minute games going up a couple of percentage points they could be in for their first seats in the bundestag first the right wing party far right party considered by many to do so in modern german history can they be the next german opposition party that is could be the biggest change coming out of this election will find out soon enough.

that's something mrs merkel recognised in her victory speech.t if we send the signal is now, it is also going to be the case in five or ten years time. this includes economic prosperity. that means to say that we need to work for a free and just contrary. that means that we need to bring together all of the european union countries, that we need to fight against the forces of migration and we need to find legal ways in order to fight against illegal immigration. the topic of security is a worry and concern for people, just as much as economic prosperity. nina trentmann is a german journalist with the wall street journal newspaper who is based here in london. iam sure i am sure you are keenly watching it, give us your take? it has been closely watched in germany. it is something which is not as good as we expected in the beginning, the results for angela merkel were wea ker results for angela merkel were weaker than expect it. we have very interesting coalition talks ahead of us. interesting coalition talks ahead of us. it is a testing ground for

we will initiate an inquiry about the chancellor angela merkel. this inquiry will focus on the breaches and the breaches of law of the chancellor that is also what we were elected for. isn't. we are here to stay so letters take take up our mandate with humility and care. and all future m.p.'s be aware of your responsibility. we owe the people who voted for us and we are the country that we will deliver thank you very much. so there we have a press conference by the far right group the f.t. feeling victorious they have won a thirteen percent of the vote in this german election clearly delighted saying we are here to stay earlier of course we have from the german chancellor angela merkel who claimed a mandate to form a new government with a new coalition party so let's bring you right up to date with the latest news in from germany so exit polls in germany's elections putting angela merkel and her party on course for a fourth term in office they also show that a far right party winning seats in parliament for the first time since the nazis were defe

-- tangle with merkel.were in the government and exactly that happened. matt: we heard christian lintner telling us he would be for debt forgiveness for greece but then want to throw him out of the eurozone. they take that line with any kind of european union deepening. from the markets point of view, are there interesting angles to play if the ftp scores 10%, 11%, 12%? guest: i think there is, but not really on the front. there could be short-term repercussions on a peripheral spread, but it is unlikely parallel and similar to the russia issue, it is unlikely we , euroet an ftp driven driven at different speeds. that is very unlikely. it comes back to the play where you say think i am dead when the liberals come in. it is exaggerated. a week before the elections, you are trying to get some of the macroned electorate and probably tries to steer it his way but it is unlikely we see much of a change in direction in extreme ways. from a market perspective, it is an equity perspective, those onesructure, that w

they've just been through the major upheaval of unification, mutti merkel, mummy merkel is reliable, is also, you know, she has a bit of an edge to her, she sticks to her principles when she feels that it's right. and so i think also, she has not had a contender up against her and when martin schulz said "she could be vice chancellor in my government," the country fell apart laughing. i think the afd, the mood in the east, were very unpleasant, they were worse than i had expected. how did you feel about nigel farage going over there? very badly. i'm usually one of those people who doesn't mind people being a bit off in having their views and you know, you have a perfect right to exist and all of that but i think he crossed a bad line when he went up there and campaigned with the alternative fur deutschland, that was in many ways a racist rally and you have to be very careful that this extreme sort of end of euroscepticism doesn't shade into that. toby, do you agree he was wrong to address the afd? i do, and it makes life for leavers and those of us who voted for brexit much more diff

i'm really are going to start a commission of inquiry against angela merkel. which will clearly look into what this lady has done to contravene look at how the reason why we were able to come on board and. accept for germany with sasha back in two thousand and. well these live events are so we got our crews in all the main spots probably. some problem with a connection that has been raining tonight just to be said because charlotte going to her little bit later she's at the left part of east berlin we'll tell you a whole can see is also an about to get more reaction for the c.d.u. not been a great night for her for all the party because she still got a car and on the last we all spoke peter all of the f.t.p. it's been a good night for them by the thirty eight year old as well of course that while the ladies go well after apparently parents. were joining. by our guest dr hans day to claim them and our professor at the university of applied sciences in berlin thank you for coming into our studio here in l.a. and. michael you haven't done as well as she wanted to

angela merkel has led germany for twelve years now but a rise to power took a lot longer than that merkel grew up in what was then communist east germany and graduated as a scientist before becoming a politician it was only in her mid thirty's that she became involved with the growing democracy movement in east germany before the war fall of the berlin wall she joined the christian democratic union and worked with chancellor helmut kohl until she replaced him as party leader seventeen years ago merkel became germany's first female chancellor in two thousand and five and has been leader ever since so we know quite a bit about her we know how she rules we know how she dealt with the euro crisis is that how she's going to deal with the e.u. going forward is that how she's going to deal with turkey and its ascension to the well yes i think we can expect a lot of continuity whatever the next government coalition will precisely look like i think there's more continuity than disruption i don't foresee any major or any radical shifts in the policies whether it is with the european union broadly r

for many, a vote for angela merkel is a vote for the status quo.has focused on her familiarity, her experience, and yet, it seems, that alone is no longer enough. because this is today's real success story. afd, anti—islam, anti—immigrant, anti—euro, and it is now part of the german establishment. what is the political norm elsewhere in europe was unthinkable here. not any more. it will change the political system in germany. it is a massive success. it gives back the voice to the opposition, which is not taken place in the german parliament in recent yea rs. in the german parliament in recent years. it is a profound shift in post—war german politics. today, running together in berlin, but in the heart of this country, there is division. this content. they are like the nazis under hitler. i was born in 1939, i grew up in the ruins. now we get this again. they are criminals. i have always voted cdu andl are criminals. i have always voted cdu and i wanted merkel again. are criminals. i have always voted cdu and i wanted merkel againm are criminals. i

the angela merkel is the clear favourite to secure a fourth term in office. germany, europe and the uk if she is re—elected? i'm joined the former lab mp who was born and raised in germany. she is in hour was the studio. thank you giesele forjoining us. we have had lots of surprising political results around the world. our people right to be so certain that merkel will be no fourth term? -- will win. if you look at polling results it's usually the trend and indicators and the problem with the social democrats is that it problem with the social democrats is thatitis problem with the social democrats is that it is simply not getting any better in returns so i would rather regrets that it is not look as bob martin shilts will win the election and the interesting thing in the german system is who is going to be the third party. and the third largest party. martin schulz. but we may see in the east of germany the alternative for germany make it greater and more focused and we are currently predicting, but the balance of power books as it angela merkel is going to

german capital now the result of sunday's vote that's going to determine whether chancellor angela merkel will remain in power for what would be her own amazing term in office in case you missed any of the buildup to it has been plenty of it lots of talking points we've condensed it all into the highlights of the election season here it is in just fifty seconds. and. yes it came to. you in a down side and a few people tried to push anything back up the whole question hunch think. why you should. find that there could be all this once again long. as he has it scared as. well as you can see that all of the leading candidates still trying hard to grab some votes why because there's no clear winner we don't know who will form any kind of coalition so i had a polling day each of the candidates has been very busy making a last ditch appeals to the electorate so the final campaign rallies have been taking place in all the major cities right across the country over candidates haven't always been receiving the business the bot. luke. i lose. trying to feel good. through. this he started to. sound

with turkish president regift everyone merkel talks tough. the relationship between merkel and u.s. president donald trump was described by the white house as unbelievable trump former press secretary said the president had a great deal of respect for the german chancellor. merkel seems to get along particularly well with the new french president manuel michel. the two leaders share a political outlook and that includes a more self-assured europe. on the domestic front merkel ruffled some feathers among conservatives in the state of bavaria with her support for a parliamentary vote on gay marriage. but they liked her pragmatic approach to dealing with donald trump's america first philosophy. besides the time when we can rely completely on others is coming to an end. and i've seen that recently myself so i can tell you this the europeans now have to take control of our own destiny. berkeley's you know and i gonna hunt them. medical takes a practical approach to governing she's not driven by ideology her policies reflect the majority view of our cabinet. on the international stage she

who will angela merkel choose as partners?ion of the social democratic party, her current partner, not to join a government or be open for discussions on the formation of the new government, she basically only has one realistic choice. theorm a coalition with democrats and green party. at least for the first agent is clear she will attempt to form a government with those two parties. francine: what does it mean that the official democrats are in opposition? what does it mean for euro bonds? >> at first glance, the fact that very likely the free democrats will join the government instead of the pro-european social democrats, something that will make deeper fiscal and bank system integration more challenging. on the other side, the greens will define their position. if you look at their platform, they are not very outspoken on all the fiscal unity, bank union topics yet. they will form an opinion. the outcome is highly uncertain. tom: wonderful to speak to you today with you being at goldman sachs that many decades. as was alex

merkel wins a fourth term as chancellor of germany but it's not her c.d.u. party that is celebrating. immigration alternative for germany takes third place in the. parliament for the first time. and it's a night of disappointment for martin and his social democrats with the lowest share of the vote since world war two. part question why for us to do is most of this is art international i'm sean thomas covering the german election with our special coverage get right to it. all right angle merkel has a security fourth term in office after an election that has brought a power shift in the german parliament artie's election team has been following all of the developments. nikki arran welcome to all special coverage of the german election from here in our studio in the heart of i'm going to merkel has won a full term as chancellor we know that with all the votes now counted but it's been a disappointing night for her closest rival mostyn she said time of celebration for the alternative for germany policy. i. think this is a big day in history of. these countries

it was a disastrous night for angela merkel.ugh, for the cameras, and for the party faithful. mrs merkel has won the election for them, but it is not the victory they had hoped for. support for her conservatives is lower than it has ever been under her leadership, a verdict perhaps on her decision to open germany's doors to a million refugees. translation: let's not beat about the bush. of course we'd hoped for a better result. but let's not forget we've just had a very challenging four years. that's why i'm happy to say we achieved the strategic goal of ourcampaign. we are the strongest party. because this is today's real success story. anti—islam, anti—immigrant, anti—euro — afd, the far—right, is now part of the german establishment. translation: we will hunt them down. we'll hunt mrs merkel down, and we'll take back our country and our people. it is a profound shift in postwar german politics. today, running together in berlin. but in the heart of this country, there is division, discontent. translation: they are like the na

it is a slap in the face for angela merkel. the german newspaper is talking about a quote nightmare victory. what's the rest of the press saying this morning? what's the reaction? >> reporter: yeah, that's essentially the summary of yesterday's election night i think it is a very dire situation for the traditional parties, for the cdu, the spd. i mean, the bottom line is that 25% of all voters have voted forex treemist parties to the right and to the left. so we have a certain segmentation of german society what that all means for a german coalition building and for the new government, i'm going to be joined by the co-chairman of the cd ur parliamentary group here in berlin. thank you very much for joining us they were saying it's a political nightmare. it's a political nightmare victory for angela merkel. would you agree with that? >> she's still the only one who can form a coalition, who can be the chancellor there's no other choice than angela merkel but on the other hand, of course it's not a victory because we lost a lot o

over for now on how angela merkel is seen through the lens of different regions of germany. cast an eye over this german election campaign and it seems like a dog dale angola merkel will remain in the chancellor's office just behind during put away from mrs merkel's popularity nationwide there are pockets of the sent those that are unhappy and frustrated with the policies of berlin like here in dresden despite the appeal and so of the whole town the city is the capital of one of the poorest states in germany it's a conservative hotbed as well in fact it's the only major city in the country that leans politically to the right dresden is also the birthplace of the anti immigration protest movement piggy while the numbers have dropped off across the country as we can see here in dresden still drawing a crowd. why don't we support merkel because she with her open border policies and whatever she says isn't moving us forward now the refugees are here and she should stand up and admit her mistakes but she doesn't she should offer solutions not model through the issues politic i'm

the result of sunday's vote that's going to determine whether chancellor merkel will remain in power for what would be amazing. ok she missed any of the build up to these elections bald work for you we squeezed together all the highlights of the election season to fifty seconds. and. here's a. minute on some of them. from. the fact of the whole question hunch thing and that's what i. find that. as the years it skip to. the polling day there is still an awful lot to play for here as a result the candidates been busy making last ditch appeals to voters the final campaign rallies they've been taking place in the major cities right across the country not always the warmest of welcomes for the candidates. trying to. you know the two little the funded through college don't shun the seanad this has started to. ensure they have been in power for over a decade the bank of america a lot everybody loves the booze and whistles as you heard there she's trying to win over the floating voters but around two hundred protesters called the chancellor the number of them being arrested. tipped to be his

it has promised to hunt down mrs merkel.sed to stand during the national anthem, as a protest against racism in america. and we have had a special visitor into the newsday studio. elmo from sesame street joined rico in the studio. it is part of a campaign to spread kindness. it is called share the laughter. i'll leave you to decide who was funniest. that's all from me now. stay with bbc world news. now on bbc news, it is time for hardtalk.