German Conservatives Face Test in Rhineland-Palatinate

0:00It's March 20th, and here's what's happening across the world right now. German conservatives are facing their second state election test this month on Sunday in Rhineland, Palatinate. They're aiming to end the center-left social Democrats 35-year hold on power there. The latest polls show the Christian Democrats with a slim 2-point edge over the current premiere. This follows a close loss to the Greens in neighboring Baden-Württemberg on March 8th. For Chancellor Friedrich Murz, the race has tightened amid his push to maintain Western backing for Ukraine and concerns over an energy crunch tied to. Tensions in Iran The social Democrats crash to their worst-ever result in that earlier vote, grabbing just 5.5%. Rhineland, Palatinate, a key wine area, and home to chemicals giant BASF, has struggled with economic slowdowns lately, fueling voter frustration. The polls suggest the social Democrats are calling back from an early deficit, giving them a shot at staying in charge.

1:00Losing would hit hard after their national coalition fell apart last year, with the party now trailing the far-right alternative for Germany in surveys. Meanwhile, experts point to a likely conservative social Democrat coalition if the margin stays narrow. This vote is the second of five this year, setting the stage for bigger battles in Berlin and eastern states come September, where the far-right hopes. To break through.