Germany election: Merkel seeks fourth term

The CDU's coalition partner, the SPD, is its main opponent in the election.

The first exit polls are expected shortly after the close of voting.

The election is seen as important because it may result in six parties in the Bundestag - the German national parliament - for the first time since World War Two.

Such a result could mean a change in the makeup of the current governing coalition.

Widely expected to retain her seat, Mrs Merkel is seen internationally as a source of stability - having led Germany since 2005. Her decision to open Germany to asylum seekers during the peak of Europe's migrant crisis cost her politically, but she appears to have recovered.

bbc.com

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