Merkel allies sweep to victory in Bavaria

Angela Merkel’s allies swept to victory in a state poll in Bavaria yesterday, winning enough support to regain the absolute majority they had lost in 2008 and boosting the chancellor and her conservatives a week before a German federal election.

The Christian Social Union (CSU), sister party of Merkel’s Christian Democrats (CDU), won 49% according to a TV exit poll. Their coalition partner, the Free Democrats (FDP), polled just 3%, crashing out of the state assembly.

It was a thumping victory for Bavaria state premier Horst Seehofer, who had assured Merkel ahead of the vote, “we’ll put the ball on the penalty spot, you just have to kick it in”.