Blow for Scholz as conservatives win key German state vote


              Thomas Kutschaty, SPD top candidate for the state  for the state election in North Rhine-Westphalia, looks on, in the state parliament, on the evening of the state election, in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, Sunday, May 15, 2022. Voters backed the incumbent conservative governor and dealt a blow to Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s Social Democrats on Sunday in Germany’s most populous state, projections based on partial counts showed. (Boris Roessler/dpa via AP)
            
              Hendrik Wuest, the former NRW Minister President and CDU top candidate for the state election in North Rhine-Westphalia, speaks, in the state parliament on the evening of the state election in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, Sunday, May 15, 2022. Voters backed the incumbent conservative governor and dealt a blow to Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s Social Democrats on Sunday in Germany’s most populous state, projections based on partial counts showed. (Boris Roessler/dpa via AP)
            
              Hendrik Wuest, the former NRW Minister President and CDU top candidate for the state election in North Rhine-Westphalia, speaks in a TV studio in the state parliament on the evening of the state election in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, Sunday, May 15, 2022. Voters backed the incumbent conservative governor and dealt a blow to Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s Social Democrats on Sunday in Germany’s most populous state, projections based on partial counts showed. (Boris Roessler/dpa via AP)
            
              Thomas Kutschaty, German Social Democratic Party (SPD) top candidate for Minister President in North Rhine-Westphalia, and his wife Christina Kutschaty cast their votes in Essen, Germany, Sunday, May 15, 2022. (Fabian Strauch/dpa via AP)
            
              Hendrik Wuest (CDU), Minister President of North Rhine-Westphalia, stands in the polling station and puts his ballot paper into the ballot box in Rhede, Germany, Sunday, May 15, 2022.. The election for the 18th state parliament takes place in North Rhine-Westphalia on Sunday. Around 13.2 million people are called to the polls. (Guido Kirchner/dpa via AP)
            
              Thomas Kutschaty, German Social Democratic Party (SPD) top candidate for Minister President in North Rhine-Westphalia, and his wife Christina Kutschaty cast their votes in Essen, Germany, Sunday, May 15, 2022. (Fabian Strauch/dpa via AP)
            
              Thomas Kutschaty, German Social Democratic Party (SPD) top candidate for Minister President in North Rhine-Westphalia, and his wife Christina Kutschaty arrive at a polling station in Essen, Germany, Sunday, May 15, 2022. (Fabian Strauch/dpa via AP)
            
              Hendrik Wuest, Minister President of North Rhine-Westphalia, arrives at the polling station with his wife Katharina and daughter Philippa to cast his vote for the state election in Rhede, Germany, Sunday, May 15, 2022. The election for the 18th state parliament takes place in North Rhine-Westphalia on Sunday. (Rolf Vennenbernd/dpa via AP)
            
              People throw their ballot paper into a ballot box at a polling station in Essen, Germany, Sunday, May 15, 2022. (Fabian Strauch/dpa via AP)
Blow for Scholz as conservatives win key German state vote