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German Chancellor Angela Merkel's coalition government seemed more fragile than ever on Monday after two of its three parties suffered serious electoral defeats in the state of Bavaria.
The electoral debacle for conservative CSU and the center-left SPD projected a dark cloud over Merkel's troubled grand coalition, nicknamed the "GroKo", which has been plagued by infighting, mostly related to immigration. .
"The elections in Bavaria are much more likely to end the GroKo," Der Spiegel said of Merkel's Christian Democrats (CDU) alliance in March after six months of difficult negotiations.
"Two of GroKo's three partners have suffered brutal losses, and Angela Merkel's third CDU fears the consequences."
In Sunday's election, the Christian Social Union (CSU) of Merkel's conservative camp plunged 37 points to 37 percent to lose its absolute majority in the alpine state that was the only one in the world. he had been directing since the 1960s.
The other partner of Merkel's national coalition, the center-left Social Democrats (SPD), fell to 9.7%, halving their support in the worst result of all polls.
The Greens were the main winners, becoming the second most powerful party in Bavaria with 17.5% of the vote, attracting support especially in large cities like Munich.
The far-right alternative for Germany (AfD), which opposed Merkel's decision to keep German borders open to a massive influx of refugees and migrants, has recorded a score of 10%.
Their success has been applauded by far-right European leaders, including Marine Le Pen (France) and Italian Matteo Salvini, who said that "in Bavaria, change has won" and sent an "arrived" to Merkel.
Alice Weidel, of AfD, said jubilantly that Merkel's government "is not a grand coalition, but a mini-coalition" and asked "to pave the way for new elections ".
– Broken certainty –
The result of the poll in Bavaria broke the old certainties of the CSU, which reigns almost alone for decades in the Southern State, renowned for its fairy-tale castles, Oktoberfest and its crucifixes on the walls of the hall of class.
Since the massive influx of migrants, in which Bavaria was the front-line state in Germany, the CSU has hardened its traditional folklore policy with tougher stances in immigration and the maintenance of l & # 39; order.
Nevertheless, they and other traditional parties suffered heavy losses in the 2017 general elections against the AfD, which became the first far-right party to enter the German national parliament in March. significant number.
CSU Interior Minister Horst Seehofer has sharply criticized Merkel and the SPD for their more liberal stance on immigration, repeatedly bringing their alliance to the brink of collapse.
This summer's political battles, one focused on securing German borders against asylum seekers, have diverted the attention of the government stemming from Merkel's fourth term and voter anger.
After Sunday's election, Mr Seehofer, 69, assured that he would remain at the post of Merkel's Interior Minister, even though a weekly poll devoted to the Information revealed that 46% of Germans blame him for the poor results achieved by the CSU.
– The decisive test of Merkel –
The daily Sueddeutsche said that, following what it described as a new stage in the decline of the main German parties, Merkel's coalition now has a difficult choice: a return to "common sense, or new elections".
SPD vice president Ralf Stegner told Phoenix TV that "citizens have delivered a resounding slap" to the ruling parties and that, unless they change, "the grand coalition will not last long. Longer".
In Berlin, the GroKo leaders, still in shock from the Bavarian electoral earthquake, are now preparing for a new regional vote marking the end of the month.
Voters go to the polls on October 28 in central Hesse, where Frankfurt's financial center is located, where polls indicate that Volker Bouffier, Merkel's ally, will face a tough battle to stay at the post of prime minister. Minister.
According to the daily Die Welt, the Hesse vote will be "the litmus test" for Merkel, who runs for re-election as leader of the CDU party at a congress in December.
"Merkel's future could be decided in Hesse," the paper said, "since a loss in that country would jeopardize his re-election to the party congress."
German Chancellor Angela Merkel's "grand coalition" from left to right could face "a fight for its survival", the daily Sueddeutsche reported
The biggest winners were the Greens, who surfed in joy after becoming the strongest party in Bavaria.
Voters, some dressed in typical Bavarian outfits, sent a message to Berlin as the three parties of the fragile coalition government suffered heavy losses in the parliamentary elections in Bavaria.
