German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s conservatives are leading the centre-left Social Democrats in a local election that is being watched as a prelude to her bid for a fourth term in the n
German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s conservatives are leading the centre-left Social Democrats in a local election that is being watched as a prelude to her bid for a fourth term in the national vote later this year.
Exit polls broadcast by ARD television show Ms Merkel’s Christian Democratic Union leading with 33% and the Social Democrats, or SPD, trailing with 26% in the northern state of Schleswig-Holstein.
The Social Democrats have governed the region of 2.8 million since 2012 with a narrow majority in coalition with other parties.
The exit polls indicate the Social Democrats’ coalition has lost its majority. Coalition talks will determine who governs.
The Social Democrats are trying to deny Ms Merkel a fourth term in the national election scheduled for September 24.
