Here they discuss their views in text, and in the case of one voter, in video.

J Korte-Bernard Wolfenbuettel "I expect a grand coalition to last a year at most" Rhodes Barrett Berlin "Germany is in a state of total surprise and perplexity"

Marion Calvert Weeze "It'll be interesting to see if coalitions can be made to work" Jonas Koll Eichstaett "I hope this political hangover will be over soon"

The readers' panel has been selected from as wide a cross-section of people as possible and may not be representative of wider public opinion.