Merkel is asking voters to vote for Lachet

Angela Merkel used what is likely to be her last address to the German parliament as chancellor to urge German voters to vote for her party's candidate, whose public support is falling according to the latest polls.

The chancellor, who will leave office after federal elections on September 26, warned of the possibility of the Social Democratic Party (SPD) and the Greens governing the country in coalition with the far-left Left party.

"Here, the economic and tax decisions that will decide the future of our country, the number of jobs, are called into question," Merkel said, adding that Armin Lasset from her Christian Democratic Union (CDU) is the only candidate who is able to form a "moderate government which will lead our country into the future.

A public opinion survey for RTL showed that the center-left Social Democrats have the support of 25 percent of voters compared to the Christian Democratic bloc, which fell by two percent to 19 percent the previous week.

"Citizens will be faced with a choice in a few days: either they will vote for a government that accepts the support of the Left with the SPD and the Greens, or at least does not rule it out," Merkel told parliament members in the Bundestag.

The Left announced on Monday that they are ready to form a coalition with the SPD and the Greens, which, according to the Guardian, would be an uneasy alliance for all three parties.

SPD candidate Olaf Scholz has repeatedly distanced himself from the Left, saying that the party is not for the government until it clearly commits to the NATO alliance.

Merkel, whose governing style has so far meant rising above political friction, sparked protests from other lawmakers over her party intervention. "I have been a member of the Bundestag for more than 30 years and where would we discuss these topics if not here? This is the heart of our democracy".

Speaking after Merkel, Solz said in the Bundestag: "A new beginning is needed, and I hope and am convinced that we will succeed."