Germany gov't wants general election Sept 22

Berlin, Feb 6 (AP) The German government has proposed holding the country's general election on Sept 22. A spokesman for Chancellor Angela Merkel said today that the date has been formally submitted to President Joachim Gauck. His approval is considered a formality. Merkel will be seeking a third term as chancellor of Europe's biggest economy. Recent polls put Merkel's center-right coalition slightly ahead of the main opposition bloc of Social Democrats and Greens. But despite Merkel's personal popularity among voters, observers say she may have to enter into a "grand coalition" with the Social Democrats if her current junior partners of the pro-business Free Democrats fail to make the 5 percent threshold needed to enter Parliament.(AP) BOD 02062137 NNNN