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Berlin state poll: Losses for Merkel's CDU, gains for AfD Berlin state poll: Losses for Merkel's CDU, gains for AfD
(about 5 hours later)
German Chancellor Angela Merkel's CDU party has suffered big losses in Berlin state elections, exit polls suggest. Germany's CDU, the party of Chancellor Angela Merkel, has suffered historic losses in Berlin state elections.
The party is expected to be ousted from the state governing coalition with the centre-left Social Democrats. It has been ousted from the state governing coalition with the centre-left Social Democrats.
Meanwhile the right-wing anti-migrant party Alternative for Germany (AfD) is projected to enter the state parliament for the first time. Meanwhile the right-wing anti-migrant party Alternative for Germany (AfD) made gains and will enter the state parliament for the first time.
Mrs Merkel's popularity has waned since her decision last year to allow more than a million migrants into Germany.Mrs Merkel's popularity has waned since her decision last year to allow more than a million migrants into Germany.
The CDU is projected to win around 17.5% of the vote - its worst post-war result in Berlin. The CDU won 17.6% of the vote - its worst-ever result in Berlin.
It is the party's second electoral blow in two weeks, having been pushed into third place by the AfD in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania at the beginning of the month.It is the party's second electoral blow in two weeks, having been pushed into third place by the AfD in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania at the beginning of the month.
'Wake-up call''Wake-up call'
The Social Democrat SPD has emerged as the strongest party with a projected 22%, in spite of losing almost 7% of their voters. The Social Democrat SPD has emerged as the strongest party with about 22%, in spite of losing almost 7% of their voters.
The strong showing of the AfD, projected to win about 14%, has prompted its co-chairman Joerg Meuthen to say the party was strongly positioned for next year's national elections. The strong showing of the AfD, 14%, has prompted its co-chairman Joerg Meuthen to say the party was strongly positioned for next year's national elections.
"We are firmly convinced that we will end next year with a double-digit result,'' he said."We are firmly convinced that we will end next year with a double-digit result,'' he said.
The AfD is now set to be represented in 10 out of 16 state parliaments.The AfD is now set to be represented in 10 out of 16 state parliaments.
Bavarian Finance Minister Markus Soeder, from the CDU's sister party CSU, was quick to call it the "second massive wake-up call" in two weeks.Bavarian Finance Minister Markus Soeder, from the CDU's sister party CSU, was quick to call it the "second massive wake-up call" in two weeks.
"A long-term and massive loss in trust among traditional voters threatens the conservative bloc," he told the Bild daily, adding Ms Merkel's right-left national coalition had to win back support by changing course on its immigration policy."A long-term and massive loss in trust among traditional voters threatens the conservative bloc," he told the Bild daily, adding Ms Merkel's right-left national coalition had to win back support by changing course on its immigration policy.
The election Berlin, a city-state of 3.5 million people, was dominated by local issues including poor public services, crumbling school buildings, late trains and a housing shortage, as well as problems in coping with the migrant influx.The election Berlin, a city-state of 3.5 million people, was dominated by local issues including poor public services, crumbling school buildings, late trains and a housing shortage, as well as problems in coping with the migrant influx.