Merkel allies facing historic losses in Bavaria

A KEY ally of Angela Merkel is facing historic losses in regional elections in Bavaria, according to a poll.

The Christian Social Union (CSU), which has ruled Bavaria since 1946, has lost almost a third of its support.

The findings will send shock waves through Mrs Merkel’s fragile coalition. However, for once it is not the nationalist AFD that is the biggest threat to the chancellor and her allies.

A dramatic surge has propelled the Green Party to second place in the poll, on 18 per cent. The AFD is stuck in fifth place with only 10 per cent.

If the poll’s findings prove correct, they could cause a seismic shift in German politics, which has been focused on the battle with the AFD for the Right for the past year.

The CSU is still favourite to come first in Bavaria, but it will have to find a coalition partner if it wants to stay in power – something it has only had to do once before.