Angela Merkel's party has won a clear victory in a regional election considered a test of her party's chances in the forthcoming national ballot, when she will seek a fourth term as German chancellor.
The Christian Democratic Union (CDU) saw off the Social Democrats (SPD) to win almost 41 per cent of the vote in the state of Saarland, in south-west Germany.
The CDU, led by Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer, nicknamed "mini-Merkel", secured 40.7 per cent of the vote, well clear of the SPD's 29.6 per cent, a result that put party leader Martin Schultz on the defensive.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
"We have made mighty gains, while support for the enemies of democracy has dropped off in ways that no one has expected," Schultz said.
The Left party was set to take 12.9 per cent, Alternative for Germany (AfD) 6.2 per cent and the Greens 4.5 per cent of the votes, short of the five per cent threshold to gain seats in the new parliament, Deutsche Welle reports.
Further indications of the political temperature in Europe's largest economy will come with two state elections in May, says The Guardian
-
Grokipedia: Elon Musk’s Wikipedia ‘rip-off’Talking Point AI-powered online encyclopaedia seeks to tell a ‘new version of the truth’
-
7 sweet experiences for chocolate loversThe Week Recommends Treat yourself with chocolate experiences, both internal and external
-
Scientists have developed a broad-spectrum snake bite antivenomUnder the radar It works on some of the most dangerous species
-
Nigeria confused by Trump invasion threatSpeed Read Trump has claimed the country is persecuting Christians
-
Sanae Takaichi: Japan’s Iron Lady set to be the country’s first woman prime ministerIn the Spotlight Takaichi is a member of Japan’s conservative, nationalist Liberal Democratic Party
-
Russia is ‘helping China’ prepare for an invasion of TaiwanIn the Spotlight Russia is reportedly allowing China access to military training
-
Interpol arrests hundreds in Africa-wide sextortion crackdownIN THE SPOTLIGHT A series of stings disrupts major cybercrime operations as law enforcement estimates millions in losses from schemes designed to prey on lonely users
-
China is silently expanding its influence in American citiesUnder the Radar New York City and San Francisco, among others, have reportedly been targeted
-
How China uses 'dark fleets' to circumvent trade sanctionsThe Explainer The fleets are used to smuggle goods like oil and fish
-
One year after mass protests, why are Kenyans taking to the streets again?today's big question More than 60 protesters died during demonstrations in 2024
-
What happens if tensions between India and Pakistan boil over?TODAY'S BIG QUESTION As the two nuclear-armed neighbors rattle their sabers in the wake of a terrorist attack on the contested Kashmir region, experts worry that the worst might be yet to come
