MERKEL’S OPPONENT: Germany’s main opposition party has chosen a respected former finance minister who helped steer the country through the financial crisis to challenge Chancellor Angela Merkel in next year’s election.
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GUESSING GAME ENDS: Peer Steinbrueck, 65, emerged as the center-left Social Democrats’ candidate after a monthslong guessing game over which of three potential challengers would face Merkel in the parliamentary vote expected next September.
IT’S THE ECONOMY: The Social Democrats have long accused Merkel’s center-right governing coalition of doing too little to prevent financial excesses. But polls suggest that the Social Democrats will struggle to unseat the popular Merkel, Germany’s leader since 2005.
