German election LATEST: Turnout expected to be high and AfD could be biggest opposition

But rain and winds are unlikely to put off the
supporters of the right/wing Alternative for Germany
(AfD) supporters determined to punish Angela Merkel
for her open-door refugee policy.
Turnout is expected to be high.
The latest poll shows them at nearly 13 per cent - a
figure which translates to sending close to 100
lawmakers into parliament and making it the biggest
opposition party.
Mrs Merkel is poised to win power for a fourth time
today SUN although she will pay a high price for
allowing in over one million unchecked refugees from
war torn lands.
German election
2017 polls: Can
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German election:
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German Chancellor Angela Merkel at CDU election
event in Heppenheim [EPA]
EPA 1 of 15
Both she and her centre-left SPD party rival Martin
Schulz rallied voters on the eve of Sunday's vote,
urging Germans to shun the AfD.
Mrs Merkel, the clear frontrunner after 12 years in
power with a double-digit lead, also told her
conservative base not to get "complacent" and urging
them to vote to "bring home the bacon".
The realisation that a hard-right anti immigrant, anti-
Muslim party is poised for a role on the national stage
is sending shockwaves across Europe.
On Sunday the International Auschwitz Committee
warned that the "conglomerate of anti-Semites,
enemies of democracy and nationalistic agitators will
bring an inhuman coldness" to the Reichstag in Berlin,
the national parliament.
Martin Schulz and wife cast their ballots
It's fears were echoed by current foreign minister
Sigmar Gabriel, also a Social Democrat, who warned
on the eve of polling day that "for the first time since
the end of the Second World War, real Nazis will sit in
the German parliament".
Mrs Merkel is still however predicted to be the victor
in today's poll - but at least 15 per cent of the 61.5
million eligible voters still have to make up their minds.
The world's most powerful woman has faced flying
tomatoes, cries of "traitor" and "go back to your
Muslims" on the campaign trail.
The SPD is trailing dismally in the polls after playing
second fiddle to Mrs Merkel's conservatives in a
coalition government for the last five years. Many
supporters believe it needs a period in the wilderness
to reconnect with its supporters rather than governing
again.
Candidate Alexander Gauland, of the Alternative for
Germany (AfD) party
If the numbers crunch the right way Mrs Merkel could
end up forming a government with the pro-business
liberal FDP party and the Greens.
A total of 29.8 million men and 31.7 million women will
decide the future of Germany today. Close to 700,000
helpers from all parties are on the streets getting
them out to vote.
Mrs Merkel is polling 36 percent of the vote and
victory is all but assured.
But some have taken to calling her Frankenstein
because she has created the monster that is the AfD
which will be in parliament with her.

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