Merkel could face fresh political debacle in key state election

DPA, 22ND OCTOBER, 2018- Sunday’s election in the central German state of Hesse could decide Chancellor Angela Merkel’s future with her conservative party’s grip on power in the region hanging in the balance.

After Merkel’s Christian Social Union (CSU) party allies suffered a severe blow in last week’s Bavarian election, opinion polls are pointing to a sharp slump in support for her Christian Democrats (CDU) at the October 28 poll in Hesse.

“The fight in the CDU is set to continue,” said political analyst Wolfgang Schroeder, noting that the jockeying for power in the post-merkel era is already underway between CDU party moderates and those wanting to push it to the right.

The collapse of the Cdu-led coalition government in Hesse headed up by Volker Bouffier, a close Merkel ally, would cast doubt on the chancellor’s plans

After Merkel’s Christian Social Union (CSU) party allies suffered a severe blow in last week’s Bavarian election, opinion polls are pointing to a sharp slump in support for her Christian Democrats

for standing again as CDU chief at the party congress in December.

After 18 years as CDU chief - 13 as chancellor – questions about Merkel’s future would add to uncertainty that has engulfed the European Union amid Brexit talks, the rise of right-wing populist parties across the EU and tensions with the US.