German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder's Social Democrats suffered an election rout in their former stronghold of Hamburg today amid public anger over painful economic reforms, exit polls showed.
Polls broadcast by television networks after polling stations closed at 6 p.m. (5 p.m. Irish time) showed the SPD suffering its worst result in the city since World War Two at around 32 per cent, with the conservatives projected to win an absolute majority.
The result is likely to fan speculation Mr Schroeder will water down his economic reforms to win back voters, and possibly reshuffle his cabinet in Berlin to give his government some fresh momentum.
