Merkel Leads Exit Polls, Hails 'Super Result'

Chancellor Angela Merkel says her conservatives will do everything to make the next four years successful for Germany after what appears to be a triumphant election win. ARD and ZDF television projections today showed a wide lead for Merkel's conservative Union bloc over challenger Peer Steinbrueck's Social Democrats. Merkel told supporters: "This is a super result."

But Merkel's coalition partners for the past four years, the pro-business Free Democrats, were in danger of losing their seats in Parliament. That means it's uncertain with whom Merkel needs to forge an alliance to govern Germany for a third four-year term. Steinbrueck said his party fell short of its expectations, adding, "The ball is in Ms. Merkel's court. She has to get herself a majority." (More Germany stories.)