BERLIN (Xinhua) -- Germany is to hold the general election on September 27 this year, German President Horst Koehler said here on Tuesday.

""The election for the 17th Bundestag will take place on Sept. 27,"" Koehler announced in a statement.
Chancellor Angela Merkel and her Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier are to compete for the next chancellery during the election.
Latest survey shows that Steinmeier, nominated by the Social Democratic Party (SPD) as the candidate, is lagged behind Merkel, leader of the conservative Christian Democrats.
Merkel has led a ""grand coalition"" government since the end of 2005. The SPD is the junior partner in Merkel's coalition.