Скачать или смотреть GERMANY: VOTING BEGINS IN GENERAL ELECTIONS (2)

(27 Sep 1998) German/Nat

After one of the tightest races in postwar Germany, voters are choosing a chancellor to shepherd Europe's largest nation through historic changes.

By 1400 local time (1200 GMT) 47% of the 60-point-five (m) million voters registered to vote throughout Germany had cast their ballots.

In Germany's capital, Bonn, residents were enthusiastically going to the polls.

It will be the last general elections with Bonn as the capital - the new chancellor will oversee the change of the capital to Berlin.

Sunrise in Bonn, shortly before the polling stations opened their doors to people voting in the general elections.

It was an early start to the last general elections with Bonn as the capital - with the first voters arriving shortly after 0800 local time (0600 GMT).

The chosen government will oversee the German capital's return to Berlin next year.

And that's not the only historic change Germany will see during the next chancellor's term.

The switch from Germany's trusted mark to the euro is also on the agenda.

The basic choice for the voters is between present incumbent Helmut Kohl and Social Democrat (S-D-P) Gerhard Schroeder.

Kohl is projected by his Christian Democrats (C-D-U) as a stable leader with international clout at a time of economic turmoil in Russia and ongoing conflict in the Balkans.

Schroeder is seen as a fresh face, ready to bring change to a Germany some say is stagnating after 16 years of a C-D-U government with Kohl at its helm.

But some voters don't want to take their chances with an untried leader.

This voter says he is happy with the Kohl government.

SOUNDBITE: (German)
"Another government? Rather not. I want things to stay as they are."
SUPER CAPTION: Vox Pop, Voter

As church services ended in Bonn, there was a surge of voters going to cast their ballots.

So far, the election has been a tight race.

Although the S-D-P has been ahead in opinion polls, the gap between them and Chancellor Helmut Kohl's Christian Democrats is narrowing.

Kohl, 68, who merged communist East Germany with the West in 1990, is seeking an unprecedented fifth term.

And many Germans see his long time in office as a good build-up of experience.

SOUNDBITE: (German)
"It will be really close, but I hope Kohl and the C-D-U will win, I do not think he has done anything wrong. One should not forget that what he did for the East for a big achievements."
SUPER CAPTION: Vox Pop, Voter

But others think it is time for a change.

SOUNDBITE: (English)
"16 years are enough, I think. For families, I think, I hope it will be better, to have a different party."
SUPER CAPTION: Vox Pop, Voter

This is an election which stands out for having been fought on personalities, rather than issues.

Schroeder and Kohl have been portrayed in the German media as rival boxers slogging it out in the ring.

But it could also be the case that the contenders for the German leadership will have to work together in a "grand coalition" government.

If that is how things work out, it will be the first time their two parties have joined forces in 30 years.

Whatever the result, the media will be watching closely for what should be an historic outcome, whichever way the polls swing.

Television crews are camped outside the headquarters of the two main parties, waiting to relay reactions to preliminary results as they arrive.

Although final results aren't expected for up to two weeks, accurate exit polls will show how the voting went.



Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork
Twitter:   / ap_archive  
Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​
Instagram:   / apnews  


You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...