Germany’s
political landscape is crumbling as Merkel’s sister party, the CSU,
has only received 37.3% of the votes in Bavaria, preliminary results
show. Meanwhile, the right-wing AfD has entered parliament for the
first time.
Voters
in Bavaria headed to the polls to decide on the composition of the
180-member parliament on Sunday. The Christian Social Union (CSU) –
sister party to Merkel’s Christian Democratic Union (CDU) –
gained 37.3 percent in Germany’s largest and second most populous
state, according to an exit poll for broadcaster ARD.
It
represents the worst election result since 1950, and a loss of its
absolute majority for only the second time since 1962. It means the
CSU will now have to form a coalition.
CSU
General Secretary Markus Blume has called it a "bitter day
for the CSU," while declining to comment on possible
coalitions.
Bavaria's
Prime Minister Markus Söder of the CSU also said it is "not
an easy day." However, he called his party "the
strongest party" and added that the most important task is
to keep the country stable and governable.
The
election can be seen as a blow to Merkel, since her party is not
present in Bavaria at all, with the CSU effectively being the
Chancellor’s ‘hand’ there. CSU, in turn, is not present in any
other federal state.
Die
Linke member Bijan Tavassoli told RT that the result sends a clear
message of what the people want - and it isn't Angela Merkel.
Full
report:
Comments
Post a Comment