What next for triumphant Merkel?

She has a mandate from voters, but she still has to form a government.

Falling just short of an absolute majority, German Chancellor Angela Merkel has the tough task of building a coalition, maybe with the opposition SPD.

SOUNDBITE: German Chancellor Angela Merkel, saying (German):

"Of course we're open for talks and I've already had initial contact with the SPD chairman."

Merkel was the big winner of the first German vote since the euro zone crisis erupted.

But her third term won't be a walk in the park, abroad or at home.

German industry has already called for an overhaul of the government's renewable energy policy, and wants the costly subsidy system scrapped.

Alexander Schumann is from the German Chambers of Commerce and Industry.

SOUNDBITE: Alexander Schumann, Chief Economist, German Chambers of Commerce and Industry, saying (English):

"Energy cost is the main topic the next government has to tackle. We had a continuous rise in