final opinion polls suggest it is not impossible he could emerge with the biggest party vote. he is up against 0laf scholtz, a centrist social cracked and the current germany finance minister in the coalition. 0nce germany finance minister in the coalition. once the results come in we could expect some very lengthy and possibly fractious coalition talks with angela merkel staying as caretaker chancellor in the interim. germans get 2 votes. 1 is for the direct vote, the local mp and the other for a direct vote, the local mp and the otherfor a national direct vote, the local mp and the other for a national system of proportional representation so both those votes send mps to parliament. the parties then see what they have got a coalition based on that total of mps. it can be extremely complex and challenging.