Merkel on track to become Germany’s first female chancellor

CONSERVATIVE leader Angela Merkel looks on track to become Germany’s first woman chancellor, according to polls taken yesterday after a TV debate with incumbent Gerhard Schroeder.

Mr Schroeder, a political veteran who is widely regarded as Germany's most telegenic post-war leader, appeared more relaxed and statesman- like than his less experienced challenger in a debate watched by some 21 million viewers.

Snap polls asking who had performed best in the 90-minute showdown gave Mr Schroeder the edge over Christian Democratic leader Ms Merkel in a head-to- head that included sharp exchanges on the economy, Turkish European Union membership and tax policy.

But by avoiding gaffes and delivering an unrelenting attack on Mr Schroeder's economic record, Merkel probably did enough to avert a voter swing that would eat into her party's 11-point lead in opinion polls ahead of the September 18 election.

"Merkel gave a better performance than expected," said Lutz Erbring, a media professor at Free University in Berlin. "There were big questions whether she was ready for prime time and those appear to have been put to rest."

The polls that deemed Mr Schroeder the victor also contained good news for his rival.

A survey by pollsters Infratest Dimap for public television station ARD gave Ms Merkel better debate marks on the crucial topics of jobs and the economy.

Germans say those issues worry them most.

Unemployment, currently at 11.6%, reached a post-war high of 5.2 million earlier this year. Europe's largest economy is expected to grow by just 1% this year the slowest rate in the 25-nation EU.

The Financial Times Deutschland called the debate a stalemate. "The curtains have closed and most voters will not feel any smarter than before," it wrote.

Traders said the solid performance by Ms Merkel a favourite of the markets was supporting German stocks yesterday.

Ms Merkel, 51, in a dark suit and white blouse, was the nervier candidate throughout the debate.

Mr Schroeder, who looked tanned and dapper in a black suit and red-and-white striped tie, was on the defensive early but soon hit his stride, using humour and a relaxed grin to woo spectators.

Given her lead in opinion polls, Ms Merkel now seems assured of replacing Mr Schroeder and becoming the first German chancellor from the former communist East.