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Politics

Electoral Disaster in Baden-Württemberg - The beginning of the end for the coalition in Berlin?

05:04

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Kiron KreuterApril 1, 2011

It was the biggest regional election of the year. After running the state of Baden-Württemberg for almost 60 years, the conservative Christian Democrats lost Sunday's state election and will now join the opposition. The Free Democrats also lost heavily, and just barely cleared the 5% threshold needed to enter parliament. The results are a big wake-up call for the governing coalition in Berlin. What are the repercussions for Chancellor Merkel? And what does it mean for FDP chief Guido Westerwelle?

It was the biggest regional election of the year. After running the state of Baden-Württemberg for almost 60 years, the conservative Christian Democrats lost Sunday's state election and will now join the opposition. The Free Democrats also lost heavily, and just barely cleared the 5% threshold needed to enter parliament. The results are a big wake-up call for the governing coalition in Berlin. What are the repercussions for Chancellor Merkel? And what does it mean for FDP chief Guido Westerwelle?