From BZ/dpa
According to forecasts from ARD and ZDF on Sunday, Prime Minister Markus Söder’s CSU was clearly ahead of the Greens, AfD and Free Voters in Bavaria. In Hesse, a clear majority voted for Prime Minister Boris Rhein’s Christian Democrats. The FDP has to tremble in both federal states.
The CSU became by far the strongest force in the state elections in Bavaria. According to the 6 p.m. forecasts from ARD and ZDF, she was clearly ahead of the Greens, AfD and Free Voters on Sunday, who are in a tight race for second place. The CSU and Free Voters could thus continue their government alliance as intended. The FDP is expected to be thrown out of the state parliament.
According to the forecasts, the CSU comes to 36.5 to 37.0 percent. This would mean that the party, which has been the head of government in the Free State for 65 years, would slip below the disastrous result of 2018 (37.2 percent). The Free Voters improved to 14.0 percent (2018: 11.6). The Greens lose to 15.5 to 16 percent (2018: 17.6). The AfD gains strongly to 15.0 to 16.0 percent (10.2). The SPD, on the other hand, only achieved a meager 8.5 percent (9.7). The FDP will probably be thrown out of parliament with 3.0 (5.1).
Historically bad result for the SPD
The CDU became the strongest force in the state elections in Hesse. According to forecasts from ARD and ZDF on Sunday, Prime Minister Boris Rhein’s Christian Democrats are well ahead of their coalition partner the Greens and the SPD. Depending on the forecast, the AfD ranks roughly on par or ahead of the other two. The FDP’s return to the state parliament is in jeopardy. The Left is likely to fail at the five percent hurdle, just like the Free Voters.
According to the forecasts, the CDU will increase to 34.5 to 35.5 percent (2018 election: 27.0). The SPD with its top candidate, Federal Interior Minister Nancy Faeser, is heading for a historically poor result with 15.5 to 16.0 percent (19.8). Deputy Prime Minister Tarek Al-Wazir’s co-ruling Green Party also loses, landing at 15.5 percent (19.8).