Germany: Christian Democrats Losing Key State Election

German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s conservative Christian Democrats are facing defeat in a major state vote Sunday, according to recent polls.

Only 26% of voters in Germany’s most populous state of Rhine-Westphalia cast their ballots in the Christian Democrats’ favor – their worst showing there ever. The opposition center-left Social Democrats won just over 38% of votes, trailed by the Greens with over 12%.

Analysts see the outcome of Sunday’s vote as a serious reason for alarm by Chancellor Merkel.