Germany: Social Democrats say ready to form coalition

BERLIN: The general secretary of the center-left Social Democrats says he believes his party has been given a mandate to form a ruling coalition, based on exit polls in

Germany

's general election.

Lars Klingbeil

was speaking moments after the exit polls were published by the two main television channels on Sunday.

In a poll by the ZDF channel, the

SPD

was slightly ahead of its main rival, the center-right Union bloc, 26 per cent to 24 per cent. In the poll published by the

ARD channel

, the parties pulled even at 25 per cent.

The polls suggested significant gains for the Social Democrats, compared to its standing earlier this year, and a sharp drop for the Union bloc.

Klingbeil

says the party now "has the mission to form a coalition," and for its top candidate,

Olaf Scholz

to become chancellor.