THE TELEGRAPH: German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s centre-right coalition has suffered defeat in a state election costing it its majority in the upper house, according to exit polls.
If confirmed, voters in the western region of North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) handed Mrs Merkel’s coalition defeat, only days after parliament approved the collosal loan package for Greece.
Mrs Merkel’s Christian Democrats won around 34 percent with coalition allies the Free Democrats (FDP) polling 6.5 percent, leaving them well short of a majority in the state legislature.
Meanwhile, the opposition centre-left Social Democrats (SPD) also polled around 34 percent, the Greens 12.5 percent and the relatively new political outfit, the far-left Linke party, scored six percent.
The centre-right’s loss means the coalition will be deprived of its majority in the Bundesrat upper house, hobbling Mrs Merkel’s ability to push through key reforms in Europe’s top economy.
“I can only warn the CDU against trying to put a positive spin on this result. It is a huge disappointment,” said Wolfgang Bosbach, a leading member of her party.
“We have clearly fallen short of our goal of maintaining our coalition in NRW.” >>> Telegraph Foreign Staff | Sunday, May 09, 2010
LE FIGARO: Angela Merkel perd sa majorité à la chambre haute : La défaite de son parti en Rhénanie-du-Nord-Westphalie pourrait à terme entraîner des élections anticipées. >>> Par Patrick Saint-Paul | Dimanche 09 Mai 2010
WELT ONLINE: Kommentar – Wahl-Desaster ist ein schwerer Dämpfer für Merkel: Die Niederlage von Ministerpräsident Jürgen Rüttgers in Nordrhein-Westfalen ist auch eine Niederlage für die Bundeskanzlerin. Die CDU wollte nach allen Seiten koalitionsfähig sein, ohne sich dazu zu bekennen. Angela Merkels Versuch, eine austarierte Volkspartei nach links zu zwingen, hat sich für die Union nicht ausgezahlt. >>> Von Torsten Krauel | Sonntag, 09. Mai 2010
TIMES ONLINE: German voters deliver poll blow to Merkel amid discontent over aid to Greece: Angela Merkel appeared to have suffered a blow last night when her Christian Democratic Party recorded its worst result in crucial regional elections. >>> Roger Boyes | Monday, May 10, 2010
THE WALL STREET JOURNAL: German Election Delivers Setback to Merkel Party: BERLIN—Chancellor Angela Merkel's center-right alliance suffered a stinging defeat in a crucial regional election Sunday amid a voter backlash against German financial aid for Greece, adding to Ms. Merkel's woes as her government grapples with the mounting debt crisis in the euro zone. >>> Marcus Walker | Monday, May 10, 2010
