Merkel Warns Supporters ‘It’s Not Over Yet’ Before Vote – Reuters

By Paul Carrel

HAMBURG – Returning to her hometown, Chancellor Angela Merkel urged her supporters to engage undecided voters ahead of Sunday’s election, emphasizing the importance of not taking her conservative party’s significant lead in opinion polls for granted.

Recent surveys indicate that many voters remain undecided, and with the election expected to yield a fragmented parliament, Merkel is keen to solidify her support in order to strengthen her position during coalition negotiations.

"What I’ve heard in recent days is unbelievable… that everything is already decided," the 63-year-old remarked to a crowd of several hundred at the Fish Auction Hall in Hamburg. "It is not. Every vote counts!"

Merkel pointed out that the center-left Social Democrats (SPD), her main competitors, have not dismissed the possibility of forming a left-wing coalition with the Left party and the Greens—an untested combination at the national level. She stated, "We live in turbulent times. We can’t afford any experiments."

"In these times, we need stability and security, and a clear path, both at home and abroad," she added.

The atmosphere before Merkel’s speech was lively as a band energized the crowd with hits like "Celebration" and "Summer Of ’69." A few older supporters even took to their feet to dance.

"EVERYTHING IS POSSIBLE"

SPD leader Martin Schulz expressed to a broadcaster that he believes a last-minute shift could still favor his party. "The experience from all elections shows that the number of undecided voters is increasing," he stated. "Everything is still possible."

A victory for Schulz would defy the current polling trends. A recent survey showed support for Merkel’s CDU/CSU bloc at 36 percent, its lowest since April, while the SPD stood at 23 percent.

In Germany, the focus has largely shifted to which parties Merkel will ally with after the election, rather than the question of whether she will remain in power.

Current polls suggest that only another grand coalition with the SPD or a new three-party ‘Jamaica’ coalition involving the conservatives, FDP, and Greens could provide a stable majority. However, a coalition with the FDP could constrain her ability to pursue euro zone reforms.

While Merkel did not specify her vision for the EU, she delivered a passionate defense of the European project, voicing her regret over the UK’s decision to leave.

"I could stand here and talk for hours about how arduous Europe often is," she commented, adding, "It is always worth standing up for Europe, even just because it gives us peace and freedom."