Greens, Social Democrats Lead in Germany's State Elections - Exit Polls

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Exit polls in Germany's regional elections show Chancellor Angela Merkel's Christian Democratic Union (CDU) losing the Sunday vote to the Greens in the state of Baden-Wurttemberg and to the Social Democrats in Rhineland-Palatinate, ahead of the federal election.

Polling stations in both states closed at 6 p.m. (17:00 GMT), with the Greens taking 31 percent of the vote in Baden-Wurttemberg and the Social Democrats receiving 34.5 percent of the vote in Rhineland-Palatinate, according to early exit poll projections.

The CDU party received 23 percent in Baden-Wurttemberg and 26 percent in Rhineland-Palatinate, therefore the ruling coalition of the Greens and the CDU retains a majority in Baden-Wurttemberg and can form a new government.

Previous regional elections were held in 2016. The German federal vote to elect the 20th Bundestag is expected to be held on September 26.