Big Task Ahead for Merkel, Feel German Expatriates.

Summary: ABU DHABI u The German community in Abu Dhabi gathered at Beach Rotana on Sunday night to witness the results of their countryAEs parliamentary elections. Two large TV screens were set up in different rooms at the German pub here, one showing the federal elections, the other the local ones.

As results drew close towards 8pm, the few dozen people kept changing rooms anxiously.

Like most of his fellow countrymen, Thomas Birringer, regional representative to the Gulf States of the Konrad Adenauer political foundation, believes

that the biggest task the chancellor will now face is the political crises.

"One thing she is most likely to do is to cut from public spending. It will not make her popular, but it is necessary," Birringer told Khaleej Times .

For the German Ambassador to the UAE, Klaus-Peter Brandes, the breaking news of Merkel's lead was not surprising. "The main question is whether she will have enough votes to govern by herself or will she need to stay in a coalition. Ideally, it should be just one party in power, as a big coalition creates less opposition," said the ambassador.

In his opinion, whoever comes to power will face the same urgent political challenges -- the economic crises, the situation in Iran and Afghanistan, pushing for the European Union's Lisbon treaty and getting more involved in the G20.Aa

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