Exit polls for the vote in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern gave Mrs Merkel’s Christian Democrats just 24 per cent of the vote, down from the 28 per cent they garnered in the last vote in 2006. Adding to her woe was the performance of the Free Democrats, her coalition allies, who could be wiped out of the regional assembly, with just 3.6 per cent of the vote.
The German chancellor appears to have been punished for her handling of the eurozone crisis. Discontent in Germany has simmered over the country footing most of the bill of the eurozone bailouts, and Mrs Merkel’s reputation for firm and decisive action has been eroded by her handling of the situation.
