Thread by @christiaanhtznr

Poor performance by Merkel's @CDU in both the state of Baden-Württemberg, home of #Daimler and #Porsche, and neighbouring Rheinland-Pfalz.
Greens by comparison can celebrate.
Happily AfD (and the Left) lost support in both states. #ltwbw21 #ltwrlp21 #Wahlen #Landtagswahlen2021

.@CDU General Secretary @PaulZiemiak says there's no getting around the fact that today's showing was a big disappointment. "To be clear this is not a good election result for the CDU, we hoped for more," he says.

#BadenWürttemberg Premier Winfried Kretschmann (Greens) names his three priorities for the coming legislative term following his re-election:
1) tackle the climate crisis
2) manage the structural changes in the economy
3) defend liberal democratic values

#BadenWürttemberg's CDU Spitzenkandidat Susanne Eisenmann calls the historically poor result for the centre-right party "disastrous", adding she naturally accepts the responsibility, but does not explain what that means concretely when asked.

#RheinlandPfalz CDU Spitzenkandidat Christian Baldauf says "it's been a bitter evening for us" after voters delivered what will likely be a record low share of the votes in the state. Today is certainly going to strengthen the candidacy of @Markus_Soeder as Merkel's successor.

SPD General Secretary @larsklingbeil calls on Kretschmann to drop the coalition with his CDU junior partner and form one with his party and the Free Democrats. Asked if it's time for such a government, Kretschmann says he will hold exploratory talks with all potential partners.

The @CDU, and party leader @ArminLaschet in particular, are going to hope the results can mainly be explained away with an inability to properly campaign, giving the already popular incumbents, Kretschmann and Rheinland-Pfalz's Malu Dreyer (pictured below), an unbeatable edge.

Could the CDU find itself in the opposition after the #Bundestagswahl? Former CDU leadership hopeful @n_roettgen expressed concern his party might find itself so weak come September's general election that a new government could be formed against its will.