State elections in Germany – the CDU is weakened and Merkel is strengthened

On 13th March 2016 elections were held for the state parliaments in Baden-Wurttemberg, Rhineland-Palatinate and Saxony-Anhalt. In all three states the elections were won by the incumbent ministers-president; however, changes in coalitions were necessary. Voting patterns were impacted, above all, by local conditions and the strong position of regional party leaders. The results of the elections also reflected the reaction to federal politics and were one of the more important tests for the party ahead of the Bundestag elections in 2017. They have laid bare the relative weakness of traditional parties confronted with protest parties which were channelling social discontent. The anti-immigration Alternative for Germany (AfD) succeeded in securing a good result in all three federal states due to its criticism of Angela Merkel’s migration policy. Paradoxically, the elections also revealed Angela Merkel’s strength and the fact that nobody is able to challenge her leadership in the party. Therefore, the election results, although unsatisfactory for the CDU, did not prompt a change in the policy the chancellor has been pursuing so far. The local elections were also another alarm bell for the SPD which succeeded in maintaining power in one state but witnessed a large loss of its electorate in the other two.

ESO: Background information: German state elections: Success for right-wing AfD, losses for Merkel's CDU http://www.europeansources.info/record/german-state-elections-success-for-right-wing-afd-losses-for-merkels-cdu/

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