Angela Merkel’s troubles mount as her party stumbles in German regional elections

Merkel’s centre-right Christian Democratic Union takes 27 per cent of the vote for the state parliament in Hesse, according to first projections

CDU will take first place, but backing is down significantly from last vote in 2013

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German Chancellor Angela Merkel speaks at a recent press conference during the Syria summit in Istanbul. Photo: EPA-EFE

Published: 3:20am, 29 Oct 2018Updated: 1:49pm, 29 Oct 2018

Chancellor Angela Merkel’s once-unassailable position in German politics endured yet another blow as support for her party dropped precipitously in a state that has long been a bellwether for the nation, projected results showed.

The election on Sunday for the state parliament in Hesse – home of Frankfurt, the heart of German finance – gave Merkel’s centre-right Christian Democratic Union (CDU) 27 per cent of the vote. That was good enough for first place, but down 11 per cent since the state last voted, in 2013.

Backing for Merkel’s coalition partner, the centre-left Social Democrats (SPD), also plummeted, falling from 31 per cent to 20 per cent.

As the country’s two traditionally dominant centrist parties flailed, forces on either flank surged: the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) and the progressive Greens. The latter was vying with the SPD for second place.

Supporters of the Green party react as first exit polls were announced on public television during the state elections in Hesse. Photo: AFP

The outcome was an almost exact replay of results in Bavaria two weeks ago, when the CDU’s sister party, the Christian Social Union (CSU), was humbled in a state where it has long been ascendant. After that vote, Merkel allies blamed the CSU’s rightward lurch on immigration for its poor results.

But Sunday’s vote suggests the CDU’s image has also taken a hit during a year when the nation’s politics have been dominated by a sustained feud within Merkel’s government.