SPD leader Martin Schulz (C) with Schleswig-Holstein State Premier Torsten Albig (L) and North-Rhine Westphalia's state Premier Hannelore Kraft in March. Photo: John Macdougall/AFPVoters in northern Germany headed to the polls Sunday in a regional election scrutinised over the centre-left's chances of unseating conservative Chancellor Angela Merkel in September. "For Angela Merkel, an election victory for her party would be a turning point," commented conservative daily Die Welt. Wind and furyBeyond its significance as the last-but-one regional election before September, there are plenty of local peculiarities in Sunday's vote. Popular SPD state premier Torsten Albig, 53, has led a coalition of SPD, Greens, and local Danish minority party SSW since 2012.

Source: The Local May 07, 2017 07:41 UTC