HANOVER (Reuters) - Angela Merkel's coalition and the centre-left opposition were level in exit polls in a state election on Sunday, which threatened to deprive the German chancellor of a boost for her bid to win a third term in office later this year.
In exit polls released after voting ended, Merkel's Christian Democrats (CDU) remained the biggest party in the swing state of Lower Saxony with 36 percent. The chief victors of the evening, however, appeared to be their Free Democrat (FDP) allies who defied doomsayers to win 10 percent.