Political Parties React To North Rhine-Westphalia State Election Results

BERLIN, GERMANY - MAY 15: German Chancellor and Chairwoman of the German Christian Democrats Angela Merkel (C-L) and CDU lead candidate in yesterday's state election in North Rhine-Westphalia Armin Laschet (C-R) arrive for a meeting of the CDU governing board as CDU General Secretary Peter Tauber (L) and leading CDU member Volker Bouffier look on on May 15, 2017 in Berlin, Germany. The CDU came in first yesterday in North Rhine-Westphalia, ahead of the German Social Democrats (SPD), in what is a resounding victory for Merkel, as this is the third state election win for the CDU this year. The CDU victory now sets the German Social Democrats (SPD) in an awkward position, as they have been unable to turn the initial popular enthusiasm following the announcement in January that Martin Schulz would run for the SPD for chancellor in to concrete election wins. Germany faces federal elections in September. (Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images)