BEIJING, Sept. 2 (Xinhuanet) -- German Chancellor Angela Merkel and her centre-left election rival Peer Steinbrueck are taking part in their only televised election debate. The 90-minute programme began a short time ago.

With three weeks to go before the 22nd of September vote, the two candidates are being grilled by four journalists before an estimated TV audience of up to 20 million. Steinbrueck faced the first question and Merkel will have the final answer, with each answer limited to 90 seconds. The event is seen as Steinbrueck’s biggest chance to claw back Merkel’s lead in opinion polls before this month’s vote.

(Source: CNTV.cn)