German election frontrunners fail to impress with flood response

Poll ratings of CDU and Green candidates take a hit and could result in complex coalition negotiations

Germany is bracing itself for complex coalition negotiations following September's national elections, after the leaders of the two strongest parties failed to impress voters with their response to last month's devastating floods and boosted the confidence of smaller parties.

A two-way coalition between the conservative Christian Democratic Union (CDU) of the outgoing chancellor, Angela Merkel, and the German Greens has long looked the most likely outcome when the country votes in seven weeks' time, with polls showing a consistent governing majority between the two parties.