March 15, 2021
2 mins read

Merkel’s CDU faces losses in state polls

The Germans have expressed the frustration with Merkel’s pandemic responses.

The CDU garnered 23.6 per cent of the vote, down from 27 per cent in the last election, in its stronghold Baden-Wuerttemberg…reports Asian Lite News

Germany’s ruling Christian Democratic Union (CDU) party suffered heavy setbacks in two state polls, an inauspicious start in the key election year which is expected to produce a successor to Chancellor Angela Merkel.

Sunday’s polls in the southwestern states of Baden-Wuerttemberg and Rhineland-Palatinate are the first of seven elections in Germany this year, including a federal election set in September, reports Xinhua news agency.

The CDU garnered 23.6 per cent of the vote, down from 27 per cent in the last election, in its stronghold Baden-Wuerttemberg, while the Greens won 32.4 per cent, according to the preliminary result reported by local broadcaster ARD.

In Rhineland-Palatinate, the CDU got 26.8 per cent of the ballots while the Social Democratic Party (SPD) gained popularity by securing 36 per cent of voter support, the exit poll showed.

CDU General Secretary Paul Ziemiak said the party “had wished for better results”, but its national popularity has been waning due to the recent mask procurement scandal and its coronavirus policies.

Two MPs, one from CDU and another from its Bavarian sister party Christian Social Union (CSU), were exposed by local media that they had cashed in on the pandemic by brokering face mask deals.

Also read:Every citizen will get vaccinated: Merkel

The Germans were also frustrated with Merkel’s conservative-led coalition over a slow vaccination progress due to supply shortages and excessive bureaucracy.

At the federal level, the CDU has witnessed its support rate decreasing from almost 40 per cent last summer, when Germany was praised for its efficient measures in containing the pandemic, to around 33 per cent this month.

Some analysts fear the loss in state elections could trigger chain reactions to the September federal election.

Since Merkel said she will not be running again as candidate for Chancellor, the rivalry within the conservative bloc to succeed her has been in the spotlight.

The negative results in the state elections could deal a blow to CDU Chairman Armin Laschet and help CSU’s leader Markus Soeder.

Both are deemed as right for the job.

The CDU and the CSU operate as a political union in the federal parliament and will decide together in the coming months on their common Chancellor candidate.

Also read:We weren’t careful enough: Merkel

Previous Story

Iran bans flights from Iraq

Next Story

Rajamouli shares first look of ‘Sita’

Latest from -Top News

WUC Intensifies Global Call for Uyghur Justice

WUC delegation undertook a week-long advocacy tour in Germany, where it met with Turkish NGOs and community leaders….reports Asian Lite News The World Uyghur Congress (WUC) has published its monthly brief, strengthening

India Urges Bangladesh to Act on Minority Attacks

MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal urged the Yunus government to probe extremist attacks on minorities….reports Asian Lite News India on Friday criticised recent comments by Bangladesh’s Home Advisor Jahangir Alam Chowdhury, asserting that

Jaffar Express Targeted Yet Again

blast happened at a distance of one kilometre from the Sultan Kot railway station….reports Asian Lite News At least seven injured as blast hits Quetta-bound Jaffar Express in Sindh’s Shikarpur district. Shikarpur

India to Join G20 Energy Talks in South Africa

The meeting is being hosted under South Africa’s G20 Presidency in the country’s KwaZulu Natal province…reports Asian Lite News Union Power Minister Manohar Lal will represent India at the G20 Energy Transitions
Go toTop