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Bavarians vote in key state election Merkel allies claim key Germany Bavaria vote triumph
(about 7 hours later)
Bavarians have cast their ballots in state elections taking place just one week before the German national vote. Close allies of German Chancellor Angela Merkel are claiming victory in elections in the state of Bavaria.
Polls opened at 8:00 local time (06:00 GMT), and preliminary results are due to be announced later on Sunday. The results are being seen as a key indicator ahead of a general election next week.
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. Exit polls suggest the Christian Social Union (CSU) has won about 49% of the vote, winning back a majority in the state legislature.
But support for the minority party in Mrs Merkel's government - the Free Democrats - appears to have collapsed.
The BBC Berlin correspondent says that if the voting pattern was repeated in next week's election, the chancellor would have to seek new allies with whom to form a coalition government.
CSU leader and Bavarian Prime Minister Horst Seehofer told elated supporters that his party's performance was a "great success".
"The CSU is a people's party and we are deeply rooted in the Bavarian population. Every second Bavarian voted for us," he said.
Correspondents say that the CSU's strong performance fulfilled a pledge made by Mr Seehofer to Mrs Merkel that his party would set an upbeat tone for the national poll on 22 September.
However the results were a setback for the pro-business Free Democrats (FDP), with whom Mrs Merkel governs Germany in a centre-right coalition.
It slumped to just 3% of the vote, below the 5% level needed for assembly seats.
"This is a heavy defeat... But our response now is: let's get going... Bavaria is different. Now it is about Germany," said FDP leader Philipp Roesler, who described the results as a "wake-up call".
'Gateway to paradise'
The CSU has ruled Germany's wealthiest state for 56 years.The CSU has ruled Germany's wealthiest state for 56 years.
Its "laptop and lederhosen" strategy promotes hi-tech firms and local traditions.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". Mr Seehofer has described Bavaria as "the gateway to paradise".
'Penalty spot'
Some 9.5 million people were eligible to vote in Sunday's ballot.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. The CSU has now regained the absolute majority in the regional parliament which it 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. CSU lawmakers make up nearly a quarter of Mrs Merkel's centre-right bloc. She is campaigning for a third term in office on 22 September.
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.
"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."
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".