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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Bavarians vote in key state election | Bavarians vote in key state election |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| Bavarians have cast their ballots in state elections taking place just one week before the German national vote. | |
| Polls opened at 8:00 local time (06:00 GMT), and preliminary results are due to be announced later on Sunday. | |
| Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservative allies, the Christian Social Union (CSU), are tipped to prevail, with exit polls predicting the party will win an absolute majority. | |
| The CSU has ruled Germany's wealthiest state for 56 years. | |
| Its "laptop and lederhosen" strategy promotes hi-tech firms and local traditions. | |
| At 3.8%, Bavaria has the lowest unemployment in Germany, where the national average lies around 6.8%. | At 3.8%, Bavaria has the lowest unemployment in Germany, where the national average lies around 6.8%. |
| The southern region is also home to some of the world's largest carmakers like Audi and BMW. | The southern region is also home to some of the world's largest carmakers like Audi and BMW. |
| Bavarian Prime Minister Horst Seehofer, who leads the CSU, has described Bavaria as "the gateway to paradise". | Bavarian Prime Minister Horst Seehofer, who leads the CSU, has described Bavaria as "the gateway to paradise". |
| 'Penalty spot' | 'Penalty spot' |
| Some 9.5 million people were eligible to vote in Sunday's ballot. | |
| A win would allow the CSU to regain the absolute majority in the regional parliament, lost in 2008 after the party's worst election results in six decades. | A win would allow the CSU to regain the absolute majority in the regional parliament, lost in 2008 after the party's worst election results in six decades. |
| It would force out its coalition partner, the Free Democrats (FDP), and let the CSU govern alone again. | It would force out its coalition partner, the Free Democrats (FDP), and let the CSU govern alone again. |
| Importantly, a conservative victory could also provide a boost for the CSU's sister party, Chancellor Merkel's Christian Democratic Union (CDU) in the general election, correspondents say. | Importantly, a conservative victory could also provide a boost for the CSU's sister party, Chancellor Merkel's Christian Democratic Union (CDU) in the general election, correspondents say. |
| CSU lawmakers make up nearly a quarter of Mrs Merkel's centre-right bloc. | CSU lawmakers make up nearly a quarter of Mrs Merkel's centre-right bloc. |
| "We will sound the signal for victory nationwide," Mr Seehofer said. | "We will sound the signal for victory nationwide," Mr Seehofer said. |
| "Dear Angela, we'll put the ball on the penalty spot, you just have to kick it in." | "Dear Angela, we'll put the ball on the penalty spot, you just have to kick it in." |
| Mrs Merkel is campaigning for a third term in office in elections taking place on 22 September. | Mrs Merkel is campaigning for a third term in office in elections taking place on 22 September. |
| Her main challenge is from the centre-left Social Democrats (SPD), who are currently trailing behind in opinion polls. | Her main challenge is from the centre-left Social Democrats (SPD), who are currently trailing behind in opinion polls. |
| SPD leader Peer Steinbrueck downplayed the significance of the Bavarian vote, saying that "the federal election isn't being decided here". | SPD leader Peer Steinbrueck downplayed the significance of the Bavarian vote, saying that "the federal election isn't being decided here". |