KIEL –
The party of chancellor Angela Merkel is heading in the state elections in Schleswig-Holstein on a victory. According to the forecasts of the television channels ARD and ZDF on the basis of exitpolls has the CDU on Sunday 33 percent of the votes.
The SPD, which in the northern state in a government with the Greens and the regional SSW, suffering with a 26 percent to a hefty defeat. Also, the Greens and SSW lost; the SSW remains 3 percent below the new electoral threshold of 5 percent, just as the Pirates and That Left one. The right-wing populist Alternative für Deutschland seems to be just over the threshold.
State elections are an important gauge for the Bondsdagverkiezingen in september. Merkel has already indicated a new term as chancellor to aspire to, but also Schulz preys on her job. The SPD and CDU are currently coalition partners.