Fresh test for Merkel as Christian Democrats look set to lose control of Hesse

Angela Merkel's political future looks increasingly precarious with voters on Sunday predicted to deliver her party its second major electoral blow within a month. German Chancellor's conservative Christian Democrats are predicted to receive just 28 percent of the vote in Hesse, a bellwether state home to Frankfurt, the nation's financial hub. It would mark a 10-point drop from the state's last election in 2013, according to the latest poll from German broadcaster ZDF, and cement a larger trend in Germany of voters abandoning the chancellor for smaller fringe parties. Two weeks ago, Mrs Merkel's Bavarian sister party, the Christian Social Union, had its worst showing in six decades in the state's elections, while the Green Party won an historic 17.5 per cent of the vote. The Greens in Hesse are currently polling at 20 per cent, up from 11 per cent in 2013. The right-wing, anti-immigrant Alternative for Germany also made significant gains in Bavaria, entering the state's regional parliament for the first time with 10 percent of the vote.  The party is expected to secure 12 per cent today in Hesse, matching their numbers on the federal level, where they are the nation's third-largest political force. Another blow to Mrs Merkel's conservative bloc would present more difficulties for her as she heads to the Christian Democrats party convention in December, where a vote of confidence in her leadership will take place. Her government coalition with the centre-left Social Democrats almost toppled twice this summer due to internal squabbling over refugee policy.

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