Merkel’s struggling partner tries to rally voters
German Minister for Economic Affairs , Philipp Roesler , of the Free Democratic Party (FDP) comments the results of the Bavarian state election in Berlin Sunday Sept. 15, 2013. Chancellor Angela Merkel’s conservative allies triumphed in Bavaria’s state election Sunday, though her partners in government suffered a painful setback just a week before Germany’s national vote, exit polls indicated. But the polls gave Merkel’s national governing partners, the pro-market Free Democratic Party, only 3 percent support — meaning they would lose their seats. Word in background reads
Merkel’s struggling partner tries to rally voters
Bavarian state governor Horst Seehofer, center, gestures next to his his challenger Christian Ude, top candidate of Bavarian Social Democratic Party, right, and Siegmund Gottlieb, chief editor of Bavarian Broadcasting, after winning the Bavaria state election, the last test before the general elections on Sept. 22, in Munich, southern Germany, Sunday, Sept. 15, 2013. Chancellor Angela Merkel’s conservative allies triumphed in Bavaria’s state election Sunday. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)
Merkel’s struggling partner tries to rally voters
German Minister for Economic Affairs , Philipp Roesler of the Free Democratic Party (FDP) comments the results of the Bavarian state election in Berlin Sunday Sept. 15, 2013. Chancellor Angela Merkel’s conservative allies triumphed in Bavaria’s state election Sunday, though her partners in government suffered a painful setback just a week before Germany’s national vote, exit polls indicated. But the polls gave Merkel’s national governing partners, the pro-market Free Democratic Party, only 3 percent support — meaning they would lose their seats. (AP Photo/dpa,Maurizio Gambarini)
Merkel’s struggling partner tries to rally voters
Supporters of the Christian Social Union celebrate after the Bavaria state election – the last test before the general elections on Sept. 22_ in Munich, southern Germany, Sunday, Sept. 15, 2013. An exit poll suggests that Merkel’s conservative allies are set for big win in Bavarian state election. Chancellor Angela Merkel’s conservative allies triumphed in Bavaria’s state election Sunday, though her partners in government suffered a painful setback just a week before Germany’s national vote, exit polls indicated. ARD and ZDF television exit polls showed the Merkel-allied Christian Social Union, traditionally the dominant force in the prosperous southern region, winning 49 percent support. That’s enough to win back an absolute majority in the state legislature that the CSU lost in 2008. But the polls gave Merkel’s national governing partners, the pro-market Free Democratic Party, only 3 percent support — meaning they would lose their seats.(AP Photo/dpa,,Peter Kneffel)
Merkel’s struggling partner tries to rally voters
German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle , left, and Health Minister Daniel Bahr , center, both of the Free Democratic Party (FDP) watch the results of the Bavarian State election, at the party’s headquarter in Berlin Sunday Sept. 15, 2013. Chancellor Angela Merkel’s conservative allies triumphed in Bavaria’s state election Sunday, though her partners in government suffered a painful setback just a week before Germany’s national vote, exit polls indicated. ARD and ZDF television exit polls showed the Merkel-allied Christian Social Union, traditionally the dominant force in the prosperous southern region, winning 49 percent support. That’s enough to win back an absolute majority in the state legislature that the CSU lost in 2008. But the polls gave Merkel’s national governing partners, the pro-market Free Democratic Party, only 3 percent support — meaning they would lose their seats. (AP Photo/dpa,Maurizio Gambarini)
Merkel’s struggling partner tries to rally voters
Bavarian governor Horst Seehofer celebrates after the Bavaria state election_the last test before the general elections on Sept. 22_ in Munich, southern Germany, Sunday, Sept. 15, 2013. Chancellor Angela Merkel’s conservative allies triumphed in Bavaria’s state election Sunday. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)
Posted: Monday, September 16, 2013 8:37 am
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Updated: 9:14 am, Mon Sep 16, 2013.
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German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s junior coalition partners sought Monday to rally their voters after suffering a serious state-level defeat over the weekend with national elections now only days away.
The pro-business Free Democrats, or FDP, lost their seats in the state legislature in Bavaria on Sunday, falling below the 5 percent mark needed to enter state parliament.
They had been in Bavarian government with the Merkel-allied Christian Social Union, and the outcome highlighted uncertainty over Merkel’s chances of continuing her current center-right coalition government at the national level.
The latest nationwide polls show the FDP at 5 or 6 percent and Merkel’s Christian Democratic Union at 40 or 41 percent heading in to the Sept. 22 election _ enough to form a government together and govern for four more years.
But if the Free Democrats fall below the 5 percent hurdle to get into federal Parliament, it could either force Merkel to choose another coalition partner or give other parties the opportunity to combine forces to form a government themselves.
“This is a wakeup call for all (party supporters) in Germany,” said party general secretary Patrick Doering.
Vice Chancellor Philipp Roesler, the Free Democrats’ leader, warned voters on n-tv television Monday that if the party doesn’t make it into the federal Parliament, Germany’s center-left could team up with a hard-left rival to take power.
“Nobody wants that,” he said.
He sought to downplay the weekend defeat, however, saying “the situation nationally is totally different from Bavaria.”
But Sigmar Gabriel, chairman of the Social Democrats, said the Bavarian result bodes well for his party’s hope of having its candidate, Peer Steinbrueck, become chancellor in a coalition with the Greens. The Social Democrats were at 26 percent in the latest national polls.
“If the FDP were not to make it into Parliament, the chances would increase dramatically for Peer Steinbrueck to become chancellor,” he said.
With just days before the national ballot the FDP’s top candidate, Rainer Bruederle, suggested that any Christian Democrat supporters who want the current coalition to survive should vote tactically to ensure his party makes it into Parliament.
“Whoever wants Merkel, votes for the FDP,” Bruederle said.
The Christian Social Union, traditionally the dominant force in Bavaria, won 47.7 percent of the vote _ regaining the majority it lost in 2008.
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Frank Jordans contributed to this report.
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Monday, September 16, 2013 8:37 am.
Updated: 9:14 am.
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