German anti-euro party takes aim at Merkel six months before elections

FRANKFURT (AFP) - With only six months to go until German elections, a new anti-euro party is hoping to tap into growing euroscepticism in Europe's top economy and may take votes away from Chancellor Angela Merkel.

With more than one in four Germans in a recent poll saying they would consider voting for an anti-euro party, the new group, "Alternative for Germany", is gearing up for a major push ahead of elections on September 22.

"We are constantly getting calls, letters or emails from people who want to join or want to support us," said businesswoman Frauke Petry, head of communications at the party, which campaigns for Germany to leave the euro.

The party counts "more than 2,000 members and donors", a drop in the ocean compared to the nearly half a million Germans who are members of the two biggest parties, Merkel's conservatives and the opposition Social Democrats.