Armin Laschet

Defeated Merkel heir prepared to resign as leader

Armin Laschet has called a conservative party congress next week for new leaders to be decided.

In a blow to the ruling conservatives, the Greens and liberals will start talks with their rivals.

Coalition governments are rare in the UK. Germany has had nothing but them since the end of the war.

Armin Laschet is facing mounting unrest within his party, after their historic election defeat.

The two main rivals for the German chancellorship claim a mandate to govern after a tight election.

The Social Democrats beat the party of outgoing Chancellor Merkel and may need weeks to form a coalition.

The leaders of the two biggest parties are now in a race to find partners to join a coalition.

Armin Laschet thanks Angela Merkel for her service as chancellor - but says he is not happy with the election result so far.

The election race could barely be tighter as people vote to decide who will run Europe's biggest economy.

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