Germany Update

Even Germany isn't immune to political upheavals.

This last weekend's parliamentary elections in Germany's largest state, North Rhine-Westphalia, led to a substantial victory for the Social Democrats and defeat of Chancellor Angela Merkel's party, the Christian Democrats. Although many observers emphasize that this election was only local, The Christian Democratic party leader in North-Rhine/Westphalia had claimed during the campaign, that the election is a "referendum" on Angela Merkel's policies.

If so, Merkel lost the referendum.

The Christian Democrats also lost the previous weekend's election in Schleswig-Holstein.

The next scheduled German election is September 2013, but there is speculation Merkel may have to call early elections.