Merkel CDU and SPD disavowed in regional elections in Hesse

This is another blow for the German Chancellor. The conservative Angela Merkel party (CDU) and its social-democratic partner (SPD) in the governing coalition in Berlin recorded heavy losses in key regional elections in Hesse on Sunday (October 28th), according to polls released urns.

The party of the Chancellor comes first with 27 to 28% of the votes in this regional state, but records a decline of more than 10 points compared to the previous election in 2013. With 20% of the vote, the SPD also loses ten points according to these surveys of the public TV channels ARD and ZDF. The Greens get 19.5%.

With 12% to 13% of the vote, the extreme right is on the other hand entering the Regional Parliament, the last in Germany where the Alternative Party for Germany (AfD) was not yet represented.

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The coalition threatens to burst

These results should allow the CDU to remain in power either by renewing its alliance with the Greens or by joining the SPD in the region. But the haemorrhaging continues for the conservatives and social democrats with the risk of fueling tensions within the ruling "grand coalition" in Berlin.

In mid-October, in Bavaria, the Christian Social Union (CSU), a key ally of Angela Merkel, had already suffered its most serious setback since 1950 in regional elections in his own stronghold.

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The CDU-CSU-SPD coalition has already nearly burst twice due to differences over immigration and the alleged proximity of ex-intelligence chief Hans-Georg Mabaden to the far right. In the social-democratic camp, many are arguing today for a return to the opposition.

The state of the German coalition government is not acceptable, said Sunday evening Andrea Nahles, the president of the Social Democrats (SPD) badociated with the conservatives Angela Merkel in the "Grand coalition".

"Federal Policies Contributed Significantly to SPD Losses in Hesse"reacted Sunday night Andrea Nahles, the president of the Social Democrats. "And this for two reasons: first, something must change within the SPD (…) Then the state of government is unacceptable"she said, drawing initial conclusions from these new regional elections.

M^me Nahles will meet Monday the leadership of his party to decide whether or not remains in the "grand coalition" difficult to implement in March, more than five months after the legislative.

A departure of the SPD from the coalition would sign the end of the current government and probably that of the political career of Angela Merkel, with new elections to the key. "Will Hesse blow up the grand coalition? " wondered Sunday the German conservative daily Bild, the most sold in the country.