Angela Merkel, more than any other politician on the campaign trail this year, has understood her flock's desire for calm. Even during the one televised debate on Sept. 1, the only time the chancellor became animated was to fend off the sometimes pointed thrusts delivered by her primary challenger, the Social Democrat Peer Steinbrück. She had to defend her policies after all -- policies aimed primarily at keeping the peace.

http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/merkel-set-to-win-third-term-in-german-election-a-923632.html