Merz's conservatives hope to avoid surprise loss in German state vote

NAMPA / DPA
2026-03-08
Stuttgart (dpa) - The wealthy south-western German state of Baden-Württemberg heads to the polls on Sunday, with Chancellor Friedrich Merz's conservative Christian Democrats (CDU) hoping to avoid an embarrassing defeat. Merz's centre-right party has seen a double-digit lead over the Greens evaporate in opinion polls, with the CDU's lead candidate in the state, Manuel Hagel, facing an uproar over controversial comments he made eight years ago abou......
Restricted content

Latest NAMPA photos

WINDHOEK, 03 March 2026 -  Proflight Zambia’s airplane arriving in Windhoek for the inauguration. (Photo: by Justina Shuumbwa) NAMPA

WINDHOEK, 03 March 2026 - Proflight Zambia’s airplane arriving in Windhoek for the inauguration. (Photo: by Justina Shuumbwa) NAMPA

NAMPA
WINDHOEK, 03 March 2026 -  Proflight Zambia’s airplane arriving in Windhoek for the inauguration. (Photo: by Justina Shuumbwa) NAMPA

WINDHOEK, 03 March 2026 - Proflight Zambia’s airplane arriving in Windhoek for the inauguration. (Photo: by Justina Shuumbwa) NAMPA

NAMPA
WINDHOEK, 03 March 2026 - Hilaria Mukapuli, chairperson of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Budget and Finance speaking at the Analysis of the National Budget workshop. (Photo by: Andreas Thomas) NAMPA

WINDHOEK, 03 March 2026 - Hilaria Mukapuli, chairperson of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Budget and Finance speaking at the Analysis of the National Budget workshop. (Photo by: Andreas Thomas) NAMPA

NAMPA
NKURENKURU, 03 March 2026 - The Nkurenkuru Vocational Training Centre officially opened its first trainee intake, on Tuesday, signalling a step to grow skills and jobs in Kavango West. (Photo by: Lylie Joel) NAMPA

NKURENKURU, 03 March 2026 - The Nkurenkuru Vocational Training Centre officially opened its first trainee intake, on Tuesday, signalling a step to grow skills and jobs in Kavango West. (Photo by: Lylie Joel) NAMPA

NAMPA
NKURENKURU, 03 March 2026 - The Nkurenkuru Vocational Training Centre officially opened its first trainee intake, on Tuesday, signalling a step to grow skills and jobs in Kavango West. (Photo by: Lylie Joel) NAMPA

NKURENKURU, 03 March 2026 - The Nkurenkuru Vocational Training Centre officially opened its first trainee intake, on Tuesday, signalling a step to grow skills and jobs in Kavango West. (Photo by: Lylie Joel) NAMPA

NAMPA
WINDHOEK, 02 March 2026 - Policymakers, regulators, supervisors, law enforcement agencies, intelligence services, reporting entities and civil society at the National Risk Assessment (NRA) workshop. (Photo: Contributed)

WINDHOEK, 02 March 2026 - Policymakers, regulators, supervisors, law enforcement agencies, intelligence services, reporting entities and civil society at the National Risk Assessment (NRA) workshop. (Photo: Contributed)

NAMPA
WINDHOEK, 02 March 2026 - The Okandjoze Chiefs Assembly met with President Nandi-Ndaitwah at State House to reaffirm their stance on the genocide repatriation related to the Ovaherero and Nama communities. (Photo by: Simsolia Kambonde) NAMPA

WINDHOEK, 02 March 2026 - The Okandjoze Chiefs Assembly met with President Nandi-Ndaitwah at State House to reaffirm their stance on the genocide repatriation related to the Ovaherero and Nama communities. (Photo by: Simsolia Kambonde) NAMPA

NAMPA
WINDHOEK, 02 MARCH 2026 - Chairperson of the Dr Hage Geingob Presidential Centre, Professor Peter Katjavivi, and Geingob's daughter, Nangula Geingos, met with President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah to discuss collaborating with the government for the success of Dr Hage Geingob's Centre. (Photo by: Uakutura Kambaekua) NAMPA

WINDHOEK, 02 MARCH 2026 - Chairperson of the Dr Hage Geingob Presidential Centre, Professor Peter Katjavivi, and Geingob's daughter, Nangula Geingos, met with President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah to discuss collaborating with the government for the success of Dr Hage Geingob's Centre. (Photo by: Uakutura Kambaekua) NAMPA

NAMPA