Merkel’s humiliation: Party BEATEN by rivals in regional election ahead of coalition talks
CHANCELLOR Angela Merkel suffered a shock blow in regional elections after her CDU party was defeated by rivals SPD in Lower Saxony.
By LAURA MOWAT
Express.co.uk
Mon, Oct 16, 2017
The Social Democrats party (SPD), led by Martin Schulz, won 37.3 per cent of the votes in Lower Saxony in Germany, which is one of the most densely populated states in the country.
Chancellor Merkel’s Christian Democratic Union (CDU) won 33.4 per cent of the vote in a surprise loss in the snap election.
It was the first test of Mrs Merkel’s strength since September’s national election, which gave her conservatives their worst result since 1949.
The gains made by the SPD will make it increasingly difficult for Chancellor Merkel to get legislation through during the next four years.
The SPD’s state leader Stephan Weil said: “For the first time in 19 years, we will be the largest group in the state parliament.
“Merkel’s Christian Democrats are the clear losers of this election.”
Mr Schulz said Sunday’s result was a “wonderful victory” for the SPD.
Although September saw Mrs Merkel winning a fourth term as chancellor, the far-right Alternative Fur Deutschland (AfD) party made huge gains.
The AfD scored 5.5. per cent in the regional elections meaning the party has made gains in 14 of Germany’s 16 states.
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