German votes could persuade Merkel to change course on refugees

Joerg Meuthen, co-chairman of the right-wing Alternative for Germany (AFD), answers questions for Reuters TV prior to an election campaign for the upcoming state elections in Baden-Wuerttemberg in Rastatt, southern Germany, February 22, 2016. REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach

RASTATT, Germany (Reuters) - Gerd Mueller has voted for Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservative Christian Democrats (CDU) for over 40 years. Now he's having second thoughts.

"I am very irritated," the 64-year-old said between business appointments in Rastatt, a well-off town of 50,000 near the border with France in Baden-Wuerttemberg, one of three German states holding elections on March 13.