In Germany, Chancellor Angela Merkel’s Christian Democratic Party (CDU) appears to be headed for heavy losses in two of the three federal states holding elections today.
Early forecasts are pointing to a 13 percent loss in Saarland and a ten percent loss in Thuringia. In the third state, Saxony, they have performed more favourably. In the local council elections held in North Rhine-Westphalia, they have remained the strongest party.
However, in a surprising development, the Social Democratic Party (SPD) seems not to have profited from the CDU’s losses. Instead The Left (Die Linke), a party of left-wing social democrats and former communists, has jumped in popularity. The liberal Free Democratic Party has also picked up votes in the three states.
The results are being seen as an important indicator of the outcome of the national elections scheduled to be held in four weeks.
Photo by Sebastian Gerhard (flickr)
Photo by Sebastian Gerhard (flickr)
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