German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s party has had its worst-ever election result in two key regional votes seen as tests ahead of September’s general election. The Christian Democrats have historically enjoyed firm support in Baden-Württemberg and Rhineland-Palatinate and had led opinion polls. But early results show a marked drop widely blamed on public anger at the response to the coronavirus pandemic. Mrs Merkel is due to step down in September, after 16 years in office. The CDU’s poor performance is the first major test for Armin Laschet, who was elected party leader in January. The 60-year-old centrist, however, is not guaranteed to be the party’s candidate for chancellor in the election on 26 September. His rival for the role is Markus Söder, leader of the CDU’s Bavarian sister party the CSU. The party aims to have the matter settled by late May.(BBC)…[+]