Budget rejection triggers poll in German state

German Chancellor Angela Merkel was facing a surprise regional election in North Rhine Westfalia, Germany’s most populous state, in May 2012, a race that would pit her Christian Democrats against the main national opposition, the Social Democrats, and test the mood before national elections late 2013.

The government of North Rhine-Westphalia lost a key budget vote in March 2012, a development that was expected to trigger an early election in Germany's most populous state. The vote could rock Chancellor Angela Merkel's center-right coalition by further weakening her junior coalition partner, the Free Democrats.

Spiegel Online International, 15.3.12: 'The FDP Has Committed Unintentional Suicide' http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/0,1518,821550,00.html

Deutsche Welle, 15.3.12: Budget bungle forces snap state election http://www.dw.de/dw/article/0,,15810093,00.html

Spiegel Online International, 14.3.12: North Rhine-Westphalia Faces Snap Election http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/0,1518,821308,00.html

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