Merkel Rival Causes Storm with Middle-Finger Photo

German Chancellor Angela Merkel's chief election rival sparked a storm of derision and online ridicule Thursday by allowing himself to be photographed making the vulgar middle-finger gesture.

The unflattering black-and-white portrait of Peer Steinbrueck in suit and tie graces the cover of the weekly magazine supplement of the Sueddeutsche Zeitung daily's Friday edition.

Long before the magazine was to hit news stands, the image of the 66-year-old flipping the bird while sneering into the lens caused a storm ahead of the September 22 vote, with attacks raining down from politicians and in the Twittersphere.

"This gesture is unacceptable for a chancellor candidate," said Economy Minister Philipp Roesler of the Free Democrats, Merkel's junior coalition allies. "Something like that is just not on."

On Twitter under the tag #stinkefinger (middle-finger) one writer said: "Steinbrueck's middle-finger seemed to say: 'Goodbye then, you election wankers.' At least he's getting a totally awesome exit."

Another judged the gesture as "diggin' for street credibility" while a third wrote: "Unbelievable! It's not a fake! I can't imagine a chancellor like that."

The image of the gaffe-prone Social Democrat candidate was taken for a photo-essay format called "Don't Say Anything Now" in which subjects are asked to respond non-verbally to questions.

The gesture by the self-styled "straight-talk" politician came in response to a question over his campaign missteps, including causing offence in Italy by calling former premier Silvio Berlusconi a "clown".

The journalists' question was: "Pannen (mishap) Peer, Problem Peer , Peerlusconi -- you don't have to worry about a shortage of nicknames, do you?"

If Steinbrueck had recently revived his misstep-prone early campaign with a strong TV debate performance against popular Merkel, the middle-finger picture was likely to spell a setback.

The picture stands in stark contrast to Merkel, who is portrayed on the cover of Friday's Economist magazine on a pedestal overlooking European landmarks with the headline "One woman to rule them all".

Sueddeutsche itself commented that Steinbrueck, had he made the offensive gesture in a public place, would have faced a fine of 600 to 4,000 euros ($800 to $5,300).

It said that, given his negative image during the campaign, Steinbrueck's "frustration is understandable".

But the newspaper was in no doubt about the impact of the photo, saying "the middle-finger photo, days before the election, is unlikely to help dispel the notion".

The paper also said online that the center-left candidate's spokesman had suggested the photo not be published, but that Steinbrueck had consented, saying "no, it's OK."

The conservative Welt daily said Steinbrueck's ironic gesture showed he was now at ease on the campaign trail but would likely be remembered as part of the "series of many blunders and scandals."