MAINZ, Germany, March 22, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - German Chancellor Friedrich Merz's conservative CDU faces a regional election battle Sunday in the western state of Rhineland-Palatinate, now held by the centre-left Social Democratic Party. Merz's Christian Democratic Union has enjoyed a narrow poll lead over the SPD -- their coalition partners at the national level -- who have ruled the mid-sized state for 35 years. The CDU's top candidate in Rhineland-Palatinate is the brother of Merz's national transport minister Patrick Schnieder. But he stressed that the CDU win he hoped for over the SPD should not distract the two parties from their government cooperation at the national level. "The next day I will continue discussions with the SPD party leaders how we can get this country back on track together," he said.

Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha March 22, 2026 06:57 UTC