Germany’s Merkel launches re-election campaign calling for center-right government

Germany’s Merkel launches re-election campaign

BERLIN — Chancellor Angela Merkel has kicked off her conservative party’s campaign for the Sept. 27 German election by calling for a center-right coalition with the pro-business Free Democrats.

Merkel called at a rally of her Christian Democrats on Sunday in Duesseldorf for a new partner in government after four years of an uneasy coalition with her party’s main rival, the Social Democrats.

Supporters waved posters reading simply, “Angie” as the chancellor pledged to create jobs by stimulating economic growth. She further vowed her party would increase public-funded childcare and the number of electric-powered cars if returned to power.