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| - German Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservatives suffered heavy losses in two key regional elections Sunday, as voters punished the party for a series of pandemic setbacks and a face-mask procurement scandal. Merkel's centre-right Christian Democratic Union (CDU) was headed for its worst-ever score in the southwestern states of Baden-Wuerttemberg and Rhineland-Palatinate, according to estimates from public broadcasters ARD and ZDF. Both votes were viewed as a snapshot of the national mood ahead of a general election on September 26 -- when Merkel's successor will be chosen. "This is a dark hour for the CDU," said Die Welt daily. The drubbing comes against a backdrop of growing criticism of the country's slow vaccination drive, a delayed start to free rapid testing and a resurgence in infections despite months of shutdowns. Merkel's CDU and its Bavarian CSU sister party, German's largest ruling bloc, were also roiled in recent days by revelations of lawmakers apparently profiting from face-mask deals early on in the pandemic, prompting three MPs to resign in quick succession. CDU secretary-general Paul Ziemiak said the graft accusations had hurt the party, and vowed the CDU would show "zero tolerance" towards any politicians seeking to cash in on the health crisis. "We're also seeing that people's impatience is growing with the corona crisis management," he added. In wealthy Baden-Wuerttemberg, the CDU slumped to 23.3 percent, compared with 27 percent five years ago, estimates showed. The left-leaning, ecologist Green party triumphed again, garnering more than 31 percent of votes to achieve its best-ever result in any regional election. Baden-Wuerttemberg is Germany's only region with a Green premier, Winfried Kretschmann, who after more than 10 years in office has forged a reputation as a centrist in a state that is also home to car giants Daimler and Porsche. Kretschmann could now choose to maintain his current coalition government with the CDU, or build a new one with the centre-left SPD and the pro-business FDP, which each took around 10 percent of votes. Whichever option he chooses will be closely watched as it could serve as a blueprint for the first federal government of the post-Merkel era. Greens co-leader Robert Habeck hailed a "super start to a super election year". The Greens' popularity has surged nationwide in recent years on growing concern about climate change, and they could emerge as kingmakers in September's elections. In neighbouring Rhineland-Palatinate, the CDU placed second with 26 percent of votes, down from almost 32 percent in the previous regional election. The centre-left SPD shed some support but remained the largest party at around 34 percent. The result paves the way for popular SPD state premier Malu Dreyer to continue governing with the liberal FDP and the Greens in what is known as a "traffic light" constellation after the parties' colours. SPD leader Olaf Scholz, who is also Germany's finance minister and his party's candidate to replace Merkel, said Sunday's results strengthened his bid to become chancellor. "It is possible to form a government in Germany without the CDU/CSU," he said. In both states, the far-right AfD performed worse than in 2016, but still took around 10-11 percent of votes. Although Merkel governs in a federal coalition with the SPD as junior partner, much of the blame for the virus setbacks has fallen on the conservatives, particularly CDU Health Minister Jens Spahn. Support for the CDU/CSU alliance has fallen to a one-year low at around 30 percent, recent surveys show. Sunday's rout is likely to pile pressure on new CDU chief Armin Laschet, who hopes to be nominated as chancellor candidate but lacks broad support. Opinion polls suggest Germans would prefer to see Bavarian premier and CSU leader Markus Soeder run for the top job, but he has yet to throw his hat in the ring. Observers say the pandemic fallout could not only risk the CDU/CSU's chances of staying in government after September's vote, it could also tarnish Merkel's legacy as she prepares to bow out after 16 years. "Crises were always her greatest hour," said weekly Der Spiegel. "This time, she doesn't appear to have the situation under control." bur-mfp/jxb
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