German Chancellor Merkel's CDU wins regional polls while the Social Democrats hit a record low - je 19.01.2009 08

So Hessen now looks set to be governed by a coalition of the conservative CDU and the pro-business Free Democrats. The FDP's state leaders are already threatening to flex their political muscles: they want changes made to the 50 Billion Euro stimulus package announced by central government a week ago. But while the poll in Hessen may still cause some political waves in Berlin, it's delivered a clear majority for CDU leader Roland Koch and the FDP.