Leading contenders make their final appeals to German voters before a landmark election

There is no left majority and no left politics anymore in Germany,

Merz told a raucous beer hall, sketching out a plan to curtail benefits, cut red tape and tighten immigration

I'm very confident and, no matter how it turns out, we still have room for improvement,

AfD supporter Julian Adrat, 34, said at a rally of the anti-immigration party Berlin

Forming a coalition is likely to be very difficult indeed,

said Jacob Ross, a researcher at the German Council on Foreign Relations

Friedrich Merzconservative leader

Tomorrow we will win the elections and then the nightmare of this government will be over,

conservative leader Friedrich Merz told a jubilant crowd in Munich

Friedrich Merzconservative leader

Europe must become stronger again and Germany must become more involved in the European Union,

Merz said

Markus Söderbavarian state premier

If we govern, we need few partners and not an endless number of them,

senior conservative ally Markus Söder said in Munich

Anyone who shows up there as a dwarf is treated as a dwarf and sent home as a dwarf,

Merz added

Friedrich Merzconservative leader

We will under no circumstances discuss any talks, never mind negotiations or a participation in government, with AfD,

Merz said Saturday

I don't believe in miracles, but in an election victory,

he said, ... German news agency dpa reported

Friedrich Merzconservative leader

Anyone who wants to be sure this doesn't happen must ensure that there are strong Social Democrats and that they can provide the next chancellor,

Merz said

Europe must be a player and not ask maybe to get a seat at a side table,

he said