Angela Merkel’s troubles cast shadow over state poll

The central German region of Hesse votes in a state election marked by discontent with infighting in the national government.

Angela Merkel and Volker Bouffier. Picture: AFP

The central German state of Hesse was voting last night in an election marked by discontent with infighting in the national government.

The election for the state legislature in Hesse, which includes Germany’s financial centre, Frankfurt, comes with support for the country’s governing parties sliding and tensions high in a federal coalition in office since only March.

Chancellor Angela Merkel’s Christian Democratic Union is defending its 19-year hold on Hesse, once a stronghold of the Social Democrats (SPD), Mrs Merkel’s coalition partners.

A disastrous result for either or both parties could further destabilise the national government and ultimately the position of Mrs Merkel.

Two weeks ago, two of the federal governing parties — the Christian Social Union, the Bavarian sister party to the CDU, and the SPD — were battered in an election in neighbouring Bavaria. That has given significance to the election in Hesse, which is home to 6.2 million of Germany’s 82 million people.

CDU Premier Volker Bouffier complains that “the election campaign has been completely overshadowed by Berlin”.

Social Democrat challenger Thorsten Schaefer-Guembel says that “we are experiencing a crisis of confidence — that has a lot to do with the fact that too much waffling is going on and too little being done”.

Voters appear generally satisfied with Mr Bouffier’s government, the first coalition between the CDU and the Greens to last a full term, and an unexpectedly harmonious alliance. But only the Greens, in opposition nationally, are benefiting in polls.

The most recent opinion polls have shown support of up to 28 per cent for the CDU and up to 21 per cent for the Social Democrats, down from 38.3 and 30.7 per cent respectively in a 2013 vote. They show the Greens as high as 22 per cent, up from 11.1 per cent five years ago.

Gains are likely for other smaller parties, and the far-right, anti-migration Alternative for Germany appears set to enter the last of Germany’s 16 state legislatures with support of up to 13 per cent. The party entered the national parliament last year and, along with the Greens, has benefited from the federal government’s disarray.

Such results would make various regional coalitions possible, with the Greens potentially joining parties to their right or left or even, if their results are exceptionally good, having a chance at making local leader Tarek al-Wazir — Mr Bouffier’s deputy — premier.

Observers believe Mr Bouffier losing power, or a disastrous result for Mr Schaefer-Guembel, would further destabilise Mrs Merkel’s coalition.

The SPD reluctantly entered Mrs Merkel’s government in March, and many are dismayed by what has happened since.

The government has been through two crises, first over whether to turn back small numbers of migrants at the German-Austrian border and then over what to do with the head of Germany’s domestic intelligence service after he was accused of downplaying far-right violence against migrants.

AP