German Chancellor Angela Merkel's party has won a key state election in its rival's heartland, just months before the nation goes to the polls.

The Christian Democratic Union secured 33% of the vote to defeat the Social Democrats in North Rhine-Westphalia, a western state it has held just once since 1966.

The result was the Social Democrats' worst in the region since World War Two, with CDU deputy chairman Armin Laschet set to become the new governor of North Rhine-Westphalia.

The shock result comes four months before the German federal election, with polls showing the Social Democrats trailing CDU by up to 10 points after drawing level earlier this year.

Image: Mr Laschet will discuss forming a coalition with the Free Democrats

CDU general secretary Peter Tauber said the party had won the Social Democrats' "heartland" in North Rhine-Westphalia, but other figures suggested regional issues played a key role.


Asked about the national election in September, Ms Merkel's chief of staff, Peter Altmaier, said: "We always have to keep a cool head…we shouldn't talk about coalitions before the harvest is in."

In January, the Social Democrats' national ratings soared after former European Parliament president Martin Schulz was nominated as Mrs Merkel's challenger.

But defeats in two other state elections since late March have left the party trailing in the polls.

Image: Social Democrats' Hannelore Kraft was elected North Rhine-Westphalia governor in 2010

Mr Schulz urged his party to put defeat in North Rhine-Westphalia behind them.

He said: "This is a difficult day for the Social Democrats, a difficult day for me personally as well.

"I come from the state in which we took a really stinging defeat today.

"We will sharpen our profile further - we have to as well. We will continue fighting, the result will come on 24 September."

Following the result, Mr Laschet will discuss forming a coalition with the Free Democrats, which picked up 12.6% of the vote.

If the talks break down, he could attempt to form a "grand coalition" with the Social Democrats - mirroring the national government in which the party are junior partners.