while loud, are limited. what we're probably looking at here is change but with a small c. this is the frontrunner to replace angela merkel, a centrist social democrat, currently germany's finance minister, seen as a safe pair of hands. his closest rival is a europhile conservative from angela merkel�*s cdu party. and the green party candidate is tipped to win a powerful position in the next german government. the environment is a big issue in sunday's election, and in crowds like these, you find a fair few merkel critics. no justice... no peace! tens of thousands gathered in front of the german parliament today, demanding change and accusing chancellor merkel of failing to prepare germany for the challenging future ahead.