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'Poll boost' for German far right Poll boost for German far right
(about 5 hours later)
Early results in German regional polls show the far right has won seats in an eastern state and Chancellor Angela Merkel's party has performed poorly. Final results in German regional polls show the far right has won seats in an eastern state and Chancellor Angela Merkel's party has performed poorly.
The far right National Democratic Party (NPD) won about 7% in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania - with 5% needed to enter parliament. The far right National Democratic Party (NPD) won 7.3% in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, surpassing the 5% needed to enter parliament.
The previous government compared the NPD to the early Nazi party.The previous government compared the NPD to the early Nazi party.
The polls also showed Mrs Merkel's Christian Democrat (CDU) party trailing rival parties in Berlin. In Berlin, waning support had Mrs Merkel's Christian Democrat (CDU) party trailing the Social Democrats.
Early results gave the NPD between 7.1% and 7.3% in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. The re-election of Klaus Wowereit as mayor of the German capital had been predicted, and following the result Mr Wowereit said he would hold talks with both the ex-communists and the resurgent Greens on forming a coalition.
Erwin Sellering, deputy leader of the Social Democrat Party (SPD) in Mecklenburg, said that result would be "depressing for us all because it was our common goal to prevent it". Block attempt
Early results showed Berlin's popular Mayor Klaus Wowereit of the SPD clearly heading for re-election, as had been thought likely. The BBC's Tristana Moore in Berlin says the results represent another setback for the CDU, which has been haemorrhaging support at the national lead because of infighting.
In Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, a rural region bordering Poland which includes Mrs Merkel's home constituency, the NPD's 7.3% of the vote is a significant rise from its last poll showing, where it managed to secure less than 1% of the vote.
Erwin Sellering, deputy leader of the Social Democrat Party (SPD) in Mecklenburg, said that the NPD result was "depressing for us all because it was our common goal to prevent it".
Rival parties had called on voters to cast their ballot for anyone except the far right group.
When in office, former Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder described the NPD as a latter-day version of Hitler's Nazi party and tried to have it banned for fomenting racial violence, but Germany's Supreme Court rejected Mr Schroeder's attempt in 2003.
Soaring unemploymentSoaring unemployment
The BBC's Tristana Moore in Berlin says the results suggest another setback for the CDU, which has been haemorrhaging support at the national lead because of infighting.
Two states in former communist eastern Germany already have far-right MPs.
The NPD's support is partly explained by its hard anti-immigrant stance in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, which has soaring unemployment.The NPD's support is partly explained by its hard anti-immigrant stance in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, which has soaring unemployment.
Mrs Merkel, who became the country's first woman chancellor less than a year ago, would have wanted to do well in the state, which includes her home constituency.
The state is currently governed by a so-called "red-red" coalition of Social Democrats and the Left Party.
Manufacturing has collapsed across the former East German state following reunification in 1990, forcing many of its residents to go west in search of work.Manufacturing has collapsed across the former East German state following reunification in 1990, forcing many of its residents to go west in search of work.
The government of former Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder had tried to ban the NPD, describing it as a latter-day version of Hitler's Nazi party. But Germany's Supreme Court rejected Mr Schroeder's attempt in 2003. Two states in former communist eastern Germany already have far-right MPs.
The NPD has lawmakers in the state of Saxony, following regional elections in 2004.The NPD has lawmakers in the state of Saxony, following regional elections in 2004.
Another far right party - the German People's Union (DVU) - entered parliament in the state of Brandenburg.Another far right party - the German People's Union (DVU) - entered parliament in the state of Brandenburg.