The Merkel coalition was always at +/- 48% and Schroeder isn't going into a coalition with the Communists. There will not be any "unwieldy grand coalition". Half the seats are proportionate and half winner takes all.
The intent of the article seems to be to sow doubt among the undecideds about Markel's judgement.
It's interesting how the German MSM does spin compared to ours. Theirs is more subtle , but no less disingenuous.
They (the MSM) tried another trick today: reproaching the CDU with disrespecting the voters by calling for another early election if there´s no majority for CDU/CSU/FDP. The CDU denied that plan. Obviously a dirty trick to make us unpopular.