Chancellor Angela Merkel’s conservative Christian Deomcratic Union (CDU) and their Social Democrat (SPD) coalition allies in Berlin have both haemorrhaged support in the Hesse regional elections.
The results mean a heavy blow to the power of the national government.
Merkel’s conservatives managed to secure the top spot among competitors, but with just 28 percent of the vote, an exit poll for broadcaster ARD revealed.
This was a full 10 percent drop from the previous 38.3 percent the CDU secured in the 2013 Hesse elections.
The SPD lost similar ground, polling at 20 percent, down from 30.7 percent in 2013.
Ecologist party the Greens were up more than eight percent from 11.1 percent in 2013, now at 19.5 percent, in third place.
With Angela Merkel’s government already on uneven footing after two near-collapses, the recent results will reignite discussion about the Chancellor surviving for another term.
Poor performance from the SPD could also mean the party will begin to reconsider their role in coalition with the CDU.
Members of the SPD have already been vocal about the centre-left party’s involvement with conservative CDU.
Some among the ranks have touched on further developing the party out from the shadow of Angela Merkel as opposition.
Up until now this move has been contested by leader Andreas Nahles, but the latest results could see a change of tune.
The SDP partnership with the CDU came from failure in March to secure a coalition between the CDU, Greens and FDP.
What do the results mean for Angela Merkel?
The elections were seen as a testing ground for attitude against the German Chancellor and her ruling party.
Results suggest the CDU and Greens could continue their ruling coalition in Hesse but is likely to increase tensions in Merkel’s ruling ‘grand coalition’ in Berlin.
Party unrest as a result of Angela Merkel’s open immigration policy has placed her in an already shaky position, and continued popularity losses would see her receive further criticism as head of the CDU.
Mrs Merkel has already been under attack from within the CDU ranks, as her parliamentary group leader was ousted, resulting in the Chancellor losing a key ally.
The proximity of the Hesse elections to the 2018 CDU party conference could mean she is ousted as party leader.
Every two years, the conference serves as a platform to elect a new leader, and the Hesse results may see Angela Merkel lose valuable endorsement for the role.
Should this come to fruition, the result may be the Chancellor standing down, as she has already emphasised the party presidency and Chancellorship must go hand-in-hand.