Merkel's party faces tough election-year test in state polls

An election poster shows social democratic prime minister and top candidate for the Rhineland-Palatinate federal state elections Malu Dreyer in Frankenthal, Germany, Wednesday, March 10, 2021. The elections will take place next Sunday. (AP Photo/Michael Probst)

An election poster shows social democratic prime minister and top candidate for the Rhineland-Palatinate federal state elections Malu Dreyer, right, in Frankenthal, Germany, Wednesday, March 10, 2021. The elections will take place next Sunday. (AP Photo/Michael Probst)

Election posters show Winfried Kretschmann from the Greens and the party's top candidate for the Baden-Wurttemberg federal state elections in Mannheim, Germany, Wednesday, March 10, 2021. The elections will take place next Sunday. Letters on left poster read "edges stabilize", letters on right poster read "you know me". (AP Photo/Michael Probst)

Election posters show Winfried Kretschmann from the Greens and the party's top candidate for the Baden-Wurttemberg federal state elections in Mannheim, Germany, Wednesday, March 10, 2021. The elections will take place next Sunday. Letters on left poster read "edges stabilize", letters on right poster read "you know me". (AP Photo/Michael Probst)