Munich (Germany) - German Chancellor Angela Merkel's arch-conservative CSU allies suffered historic losses in Bavaria state elections yesterday, dealing a blow to her fragile three-party coalition government. "Debacle for CSU and SPD," ran the first online headline of Bild daily, while Spiegel Online called it a "bitter defeat" for Bavaria's traditional ruling party. The Bavaria poll result shattered old certainties for the CSU, which had long dominated politics in the state known for its fairytale castles, Oktoberfest and crucifixes on classroom walls. The poll result yesterday showed that the tactic -- and Seehofer's brinkmanship in Berlin, including threats to resign -- have backfired badly. Seehofer, 69, has already declared he intends to "complete my mission" as interior minister, and presumably keep needling Merkel.

Source: Philippine Star October 14, 2018 16:30 UTC