Merkel's conservative allies battered in Bavaria, Greens gain big

In a further erosion of Germany's political mainstream, the conservative Christian Social Union (CSU) has lost its absolute majority in Bavaria’s state elections, while the Greens have become the second largest political force there, writes Deutsche Welle. The CSU secured 37.2 percent of the vote, according to preliminary results, while the Green Party won 17.5 percent. The Social Democrats (SPD) dropped dramatically to 9.7 percent, and the right-wing populist Alternative for Germany (AfD) won 10.2 percent. While the results mean that the CSU is set to continue to govern the prosperous state, it will need a coalition partner.
In an interview with public broadcaster ZDF, state premier Markus Söder (CSU) said he would “clearly prefer” a coalition with the conservative Free Voters, which won 11.6 percent of the vote. “The Greens’ programme is hardly coalition-compatible,” said Söder.

Note: The Clean Energy Wire will publish an article on the Bavarian elections' political consequences later today.

Find the DW article in English here and the ZDF interview in German here.

Also read the CLEW election preview Shake-up in Bavaria's election may impact German energy policy and the factsheet Facts on the German state elections in Bavaria.