Merkel party defeated in German state election

The region of North Rhine-Westphalia – Germany’s most populated state – has swung towards the centre-left Social Democrats (SPD), who won almost 39 per cent of Sunday’s vote, according to early projections.

The CDU, represented by Merkel’s Environment Minister Norbert Rottgen won just 26 per cent.

“This election day today is a bitter day for the party, for myself and for our supporters. We have clearly been defeated,” said Rottgen.