Germany election: Chancellor Angela Merkel's era to end after 16 years

Germans vote in an election on Sunday that will mark the end of Merkel's 16 years in power and the beginning of a rare period of unpredictability in Europe's top economy. After steering Germany safely through crises such as the 2009-10 eurozone financial crunch, a massive influx of refugees in 2015 and the coronavirus pandemic, Merkel leaves behind an economic powerhouse in relatively robust health. But critics say she has left the EU's most populous country unprepared for a greener and more digital future, while social inequality has worsened. The veteran leader has been tight-lipped about what she'll do next, but she has said she pictures herself reading and maybe taking "a little nap".