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Angela Merkel faces test in German regional elections Angela Merkel's CDU suffers German state election setbacks
(35 minutes later)
Germans are voting in three regional elections seen as a test of support for Chancellor Angela Merkel's policy towards refugees. The party of German Chancellor Angela Merkel has suffered defeats in two of three states holding regional elections, exit polls suggest.
The anti-immigration Alternative for Germany party (AfD) is expected to make gains amid unease over Mrs Merkel's so-called "open door" policy. They indicate the Christian Democrats lost support in Baden-Wuerttemberg and Rhineland Palatinate, but remain the largest party in Saxony-Anhalt.
The anti-migrant AfD achieved gains in all three states, exit polls indicate.
The elections were seen as a test of support for Chancellor Merkel's policy of accommodating refugees.
More than a million migrants and refugees entered Germany in 2015.More than a million migrants and refugees entered Germany in 2015.
Asked on Saturday how she was preparing for Sunday's elections, Mrs Merkel said: "I'm crossing my fingers."
Polls suggest that her Christian Democratic Union (CDU) will remain the biggest party in Saxony-Anhalt in the east of the country.
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The CDU is currently the largest party in the western state of Baden-Wuerttemberg but faces defeat to the Greens. In the western state of Baden-Wuerttemberg, exit polls suggest the Christian Democrats (CDU) were defeated by the Greens.
And in Rhineland-Palatinate, where the CDU came a close second last time, the race is on a knife edge.
However, the CDU candidate for state premier, Julia Kloeckner, was optimistic.
"I have the impression that people are incredibly interested and motivated," she said.
"I have a great team and it was fun, too. That's a part of it. Democracy also should be a pleasure."
'Real opposition''Real opposition'
Turnout by 14:00 (13:00 GMT) was more than 35% in Saxony Anhalt and Baden-Wuerrtemberg, and 56% in Rhineland-Palatinate, considerably higher than in 2011, media reports said. Earlier, polls had put the AfD's support as high as 19% in Saxony-Anhalt, where the CDU and the Social Democrats now govern in coalition.
Polls put the AfD's support as high as 19% in Saxony-Anhalt, where the CDU and the Social Democrats now govern in coalition.
Andre Poggenburg, its leader in the state, said after voting: "We have governing parties and so-called opposition parties but they all follow one policy, Merkel's one-track policy.
"But people want an alternative, they want a real opposition and we want to take over this task."
If the AfD performs as well as the polls indicate, the coalition partners may need to team up with a third party to assemble a majority.
Already represented in five of Germany's 16 regional parliaments, the AfD has campaigned on slogans such as "Secure the borders" and "Stop the asylum chaos".Already represented in five of Germany's 16 regional parliaments, the AfD has campaigned on slogans such as "Secure the borders" and "Stop the asylum chaos".
German Vice-Chancellor Sigmar Gabriel said on Saturday that gains for the AfD would not change his government's stance on immigration.German Vice-Chancellor Sigmar Gabriel said on Saturday that gains for the AfD would not change his government's stance on immigration.
He said: "There is a clear position that we stand by: humanity and solidarity. We will not change our position now.He said: "There is a clear position that we stand by: humanity and solidarity. We will not change our position now.
But in Berlin on Saturday, about 2,000 right-wing demonstrators carrying German flags chanted "Merkel must go!" and "We are the people!".But in Berlin on Saturday, about 2,000 right-wing demonstrators carrying German flags chanted "Merkel must go!" and "We are the people!".
Poor results would put additional pressure on Mrs Merkel, just as she is trying to push through an EU deal with Turkey to reduce the numbers of migrants and refugees entering western Europe.Poor results would put additional pressure on Mrs Merkel, just as she is trying to push through an EU deal with Turkey to reduce the numbers of migrants and refugees entering western Europe.
As Europe's largest economy, Germany has a leading role in policy-making for the European Union.As Europe's largest economy, Germany has a leading role in policy-making for the European Union.
At a summit earlier this week, the chancellor promoted a last-minute draft of the deal and demanded the support of other European leaders.At a summit earlier this week, the chancellor promoted a last-minute draft of the deal and demanded the support of other European leaders.
Ms Merkel still needs to complete that deal at another summit at the end of this week. If her party performs poorly on Sunday, she will go into that meeting weakened.Ms Merkel still needs to complete that deal at another summit at the end of this week. If her party performs poorly on Sunday, she will go into that meeting weakened.
The meetings and demonstrations came as thousands of migrants have massed in muddy camps in the Greek border town of Idomeni after countries across the Balkans closed their borders.The meetings and demonstrations came as thousands of migrants have massed in muddy camps in the Greek border town of Idomeni after countries across the Balkans closed their borders.
Are you voting in Germany? What are your thoughts on the election? What issues matter to you? You can share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.Are you voting in Germany? What are your thoughts on the election? What issues matter to you? You can share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.
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Or comment below.Or comment below.