State vote weakens Germany’s Merkel
Exit polls indicate Chrisitan Democrat party risks losing seats.
Published On 30 Aug 2009
In elections in 2002 and 2005 that healthy lead fell away sharply.
If the popularity of the CDU is weakened, Merkel may be pushed into forming a coalition with the SPD, jeopardising her plans to push through tax cuts and legislation to extend the life of the country’s nuclear power plants.
Her preferred option is to form a coalition government with the business-friendly Free Democrats (FDP).
An opinion survey carried out over the weekend indicated that 87 per cent of Germans expect Merkel to win a second term as chancellor.
In a third regional vote in the eastern state of Saxony, Merkel’s party is expected to retain power.
Source: News Agencies