Germany is busy preparing for Sunday's national parliamentary election. Polls indicate it will be a close race for Germany's leadership.

 

German Chancellor Angela Merkel and her challenger, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, used their final campaign hours to win over undecided voters.

Seeking a new term as Chancellor, Merkel urged voters to stand with her conservative bloc, the Christian Democratic Union and Christian Social Union.

Merkel hopes to form a center-right government with the pro-business Free Democrats to end the current grand coalition. She says the change of coalition will ensure stronger economic growth.

Angela Merkel, German Chancellor, said, "I have just returned from Pittsburgh, and I know that the whole world is trying hard. But Germany cannot afford to conduct experiments. Germany needs stable conditions. That's what tomorrow is all about, and the CDU/CSU stand for stability."

Meanwhile, her main rival, Social Democrats leader, Steinmeier, was warning a center-right government will put business interests above those of the poor. Steinmeier, who is also the Foreign Minister, assured voters that his party can do better.

Frank-Walter Steinmeier, Social Democrats leader, said, firmly believe that this country can do better. I believe in it, and that's why I am standing here. I am ready. You believe in it too, please."

On Saturday, minor parties also made final their campaign.

The campaign has centered mainly on how best to improve economic recovery. The role of German troops in Afghanistan also became a dominant topic after a recent Taliban threat.

The latest polls put the center-right alliance exactly level with that of the SPD, Greens, and far-left Die Linke party.