Social Democrat leader Peer Steinbrueck is Angela Merkel 's main rival in the election race . He served as finance minister in Angela Merkel 's first coalition government from 2005 to 2009 . Comment:
Social Democrat leader Peer Steinbrueck is Angela Merkel 's main rival in the election race . He served as finance minister in Angela Merkel 's first coalition government from 2005 to 2009 . The polls are predicting his party 26 % of votes , he will need coalition partners if he wants to govern .