Leaders of Germany's main opposition bloc called Friday for voters turned off by the government to back them in two major state elections this fall, arguing that they are the best bet for stability while voting for a burgeoning far-right party would bring no change.
The Oct. 8 elections in the southern state of Bavaria and neighboring Hesse come at the half-way mark of center-left Chancellor Olaf Scholz's term. The center-right Union bloc — which currently leads both regions — hopes to capitalize on discontent with his often-rancorous three-party coalition, and keep down support for the far-right Alternative for Germany, or AfD.
