BERLIN -Senior politicians from Germany's parties reacted on Sunday to exit polls showing Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservatives and Finance Minister Olaf Scholz's Social Democrats running neck-and-neck in a national election.
Conservative chancellor candidate Armin Laschet:
"It was clear to us that without incumbent's bonus it would be a more open, a tighter and a tougher election campaign. This is a neck and neck race.
"We have no clear final result, no certain numbers. But we can already say we cannot be satisfied with this result. Despite that, the result is completely unclear and it will be a long evening.
We will do everything to form a conservative-led government, because Germany needs a future-oriented coalition that modernizes our country."
SPD minister Hubertus Heil:
"This is a spectacular success. This demonstrates citizens' faith in Olaf Scholz... The SPD is back, we are in our place again."
Senior Green lawmaker Katrin Goering-Eckardt:
"This has been a once-in-a-generation election."
Paul Ziemiak, Christian Democrat General Secretary:
"That hurts... It's clear: the losses are raw, they are bitter. But we have a credo in the CDU - first the country, then the party. According to the numbers we have now there is a possibility for a future-oriented coalition of CDU/CSU, FDP and Green that stands for stability, security and climate protection."
Julian Reichelt, Editor of Bild, Germany's top-selling newspaper:
"(Chancellor candidate) Armin Laschet is standing there with a result that is a historic catastrophe for the CDU."