German Chancellor Angela Merkel Launches Her Re-Election Campaign

Election will be held on September 22

The German Chancellor, Angela Merkel, has launched her re-election campaign by implying she is a safe pair of hands steering the economy.

Mrs Merkel addressed about 1,000 people in the picturesque medieval town of Seligenstadt, near Frankfurt.

News that the German economy grew by 0.7% in the second quarter boosted her campaign for a third term in power.

Her conservative Christian Democrats (CDU) and their Bavarian allies have a big lead in opinion polls.

The election will be held on 22 September, and Mrs Merkel's campaign tour will take her to nearly 60 events before then.