President Steinmeier votes in German election

German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier voted in Berlin on Sunday, in a parliamentary election that will determine who succeeds Chancellor Angela Merkel after her 16 years at the helm of Europe's biggest economy.

"Those who vote live democracy, those who help organise elections are doing a service to the community," said Steinmeier after voting with his wife Elke Buedenbender.

Polls point to a very close race between Merkel's center-right Union bloc, with state governor Armin Laschet running for chancellor, and the center-left Social Democrats, for whom outgoing finance minister and Vice Chancellor Olaf Scholz is seeking the top job.