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Dublin: 17 °C Wednesday 19 June, 2013

Merkel’s coalition in neck-and-neck regional election

Angela Merkel’s CDU-Free Democrats coalition is neck and neck with an opposition alliance in elections in Lower Saxony.

The Christian Democrats of Wolfgang Schauble (left) and Angela Merkel are neck-and-neck with an opposition coalition in elections in Lower Saxony.
The Christian Democrats of Wolfgang Schauble (left) and Angela Merkel are neck-and-neck with an opposition coalition in elections in Lower Saxony.
Image: Michael Sohn/AP

AN EXIT POLL has suggested a neck-and-neck race between Chancellor Angela Merkel’s conservative-led coalition and the centre-left opposition in a major state election that marks a significant test ahead of national elections later this year.

The ARD television exit poll showed Merkel’s Christian Democrats winning 36 per cent in today’s election for a new state legislature in Lower Saxony. Their junior coalition partner, the Free Democrats, won 10 per cent.

The opposition Social Democrats and Greens hope to oust them from the regional government; the exit poll put their support at 32.5 and 13.5 per cent respectively – putting each of the two sides on 46 per cent.

Merkel will seek a third four-year term in a federal election due to take place in September at the latest. The opposition hoped for a boost from Lower Saxony.

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Comments (5 Comments)

  • New blood is needed of we’re to see a less intransigent Germany.

    Reply
    • Unfortunately, there isn’t any at the federal level in Germany. The Social Democratic Party are pretty much of a level as Britain’s New Labour, and were voted out of power because they were seen as smug and ineffective after
      being too long in power, and no other party is strong enough to be anything other than a minor coalition partner. Much as Merkel is a less than attractive choice, none of the competition would mean an improvement for the deficit countries in the EU, including Ireland. I’d expect very few major decisions regarding the EU being made by Germany until after the autumn elections.

      Reply
    • The SDP have also made very hard statements on dealing with the Euro and Irish banking debt, some actually much harder than Merkel. Don’t be so sure that an SDP led government would lead to a less intransigent Germany.

      Reply
  • would you believe that I think Australia could do with Ms Merkel.
    she is strong and has her country and EU in hand

    Reply
  • I hope the “wanna-be” Thatcher loses

    Reply

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