German election too close to call as polls find SPD has lost its lead

A coalition appears inevitable after two surveys suggest almost equal support for CDU and former favourite

The race to succeed Angela Merkel as German chancellor remains completely open two days before western Europe's most populous country goes to the polls, with the latest predictions showing the leading parties almost neck and neck.

Two leading polls published on Friday ahead of Sunday's election indicate the Social Democrats (SPD) have lost their lead over the Christian Democrats (CDU). One, carried out by Civey for the broadcaster ZDF, showed the SPD to be stable on 25%, but the CDU to have risen to 23%. A poll released later in the day for the polling institute Allensbach for the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung showed the race to be even tighter, with the SPD on 26%, the CDU on 25%.