[ad_1]
The central region of Hesse in Germany voted Sunday in an election in a state marked by discontent with internal struggles within the national government – and its findings could help determine whether the chancellor's administration Angela Merkel has a long-term future.
The elections to the national legislature of Hesse, which includes the German financial center of Frankfurt, come as support for the ruling parties deteriorates and tensions are exacerbated within a federal coalition in place since March alone.
The Christian Democrat-Conservative Union of Merkel defends its 19 years of detention on Hesse, which was formerly a stronghold of the center-left social democrats, the partners of the Chancellor's federal coalition in Berlin. A disastrous result for one or the other or both parties could further destabilize the national government and, ultimately, the position of Merkel, leader of Germany for 13 years.
Two weeks ago, two of the federal parties – the Christian Social Union, Merkel's only CDU sister, and the Social Democrats – were defeated in an election in neighboring Bavaria.
This has given extra importance to the elections in Hessen, home to 6.2 million of the 82 million inhabitants that Germany has.
The conservative governor of Hesse, Volker Bouffier, complains that "the election campaign has been completely overshadowed by Berlin". Social Democrat challenger Thorsten Schaefer-Guembel said: "We are going through a crisis of confidence, which has a lot to do with the fact that too many blunders happen and too little is done."
Voters seem globally satisfied with the Bouffier government, the first coalition between the CDU and the traditionally leftist Greens, to last an entire legislature and an unexpected and harmonious alliance.
But only the Greens, who are in opposition at the national level, benefit from polls.
Recent polls have shown support of up to 28% for the CDU and up to 21% for the Social Democrats, against 38.3% and 30.7% respectively at one vote in 2013. They show that the Greens reached 22%, against 11.1% five years ago.
Gains are likely for other small parties, and the far-right anti-migration party for Germany seems ready to enter the last of the 16 German legislatures with support going up to the end. at 13%. The party entered the national parliament last year and, along with the Greens, took advantage of the federal government's dismay.
Such results would allow various regional coalitions, the Greens potentially joining the parties to the right or left or even, if their results are exceptionally good, giving the chance to their local leader Tarek Al-Wazir – currently deputy of Bouffier – the governor of the state.
Observers believe that the loss of power of Bouffier or that a disastrous result for Schaefer-Guembel would further destabilize the federal coalition Merkel. Both men are the deputy national leaders of their parties.
A loss for Bouffier would make life more difficult for Merkel, who announced plans to run for another two-year term at the CDU leadership at a congress in December. The fragility of the government has weakened.
The Social Democrats reluctantly entered Merkel's national government in March, and many are appalled by what has happened since then. A very bad performance in Hesse could embolden critics to press for the Social Democrats to leave the federal coalition and endanger the work of party leader Andrea Nahles.
The government has gone through two major crises, first on the removal of a small number of migrants to the Austrian-German border, then on what to do with the head of the German national intelligence services after being accused of to minimize the violence of the far right against migrants. He failed to convince voters that he did a lot in other areas.
"If this government separates now, the elections would be anticipated," said CDU Secretary General Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer this week.
She baderted that the three parties in power should rather, after the Hessian vote, give priority to a few policies and apply them as "an important signal" for the Germans as to the effectiveness of the government.
[ad_2]
Source link
