An upset in North Rhine-Westphalia unsettles Germany’s ruling coalition
The Social Democrats did awfully; their Green partners did remarkably well
The election-night party on May 15th in a tent in the garden of the headquarters of the Christian Democratic Party (cdu) in Düsseldorf, the capital of North Rhine-Westphalia (nrw), got so noisy that the office of public order had to intervene after locals complained. cdu members celebrated their unexpectedly strong showing at the state’s election with 500 litres of beer and very loud chanting. Hendrik Wüst, the usually stiff Westphalian who is the incumbent state premier, was dancing and chanting along.
This article appeared in the Europe section of the print edition under the headline “Another blow for Mr Scholz”
Europe May 21st 2022
- The blockade of Ukraine’s ports is worsening world hunger
- Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is running out of steam, again
- Meet Elisabeth Borne, France’s new prime minister
- An upset in North Rhine-Westphalia unsettles Germany’s ruling coalition
- Rows over press freedom overshadow Greece’s recent achievements
- A new sitcom gives faces to “faceless Eurocrats”
From the May 21st 2022 edition
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