for the ruling cdu, there was consolation in remaining the largest party. the state premiere is from the cdu. on sunday night he hailed his party showing in his own state. >> we were in a different situation in a different party landscape. >> with many suggesting the vote was a referendum on the policies of angela merkel. her popularity has slumped as the influx of refugees has grown. in recent weeks, though, her approval rating has recovered somewhat, but not in time to save her party leaders where the cdu's main opponents were victorious, and candidates won seats in of the established parties. one scientist told me why he felt that voters chose them. >> they fear they will be the losers of the refugee crisis, and i don't think that is the real threat, but people feel it is a threat, and therefore they voted for these anti---these anti-parties. >> the questions for the federal government will be what to make of the voter's verdict, and where it leaves their policy on refugees dominic kane, al jazeera. >> some 12,000 refugee remain stuck on the border of ma

for the ruling cdu there was consolation in remaining the largest party. the state premier is from the cdu. on sunday night he hailed his party showing in his own state. >> translation: we managed to win with a good margin. we have roughly the same result in absolute votes as five years ago when we were in a different situation, a totally different party landscape. >> reporter: this election campaign has been dominated by the refugee crisis with many suggesting the vote was a referendum on the policies of angela merkel. her popularity has sumped as the influx of refugees have grown. in the past few weeks her position has been more favorable, but it didn't help her here. one political scientist told me why he felt voters chose the rfd. >> they appear that they are the losers of the refugees crisis and i don't think that is the real threat, but the people feel it is a threat and, therefore, they voted for this anti-refugee party. judge the questions for the federal government will be what to make of the voters' verdict and where it leaves their policy on ref

for the ruling cdu there was consolation in remaining the largest party. the state premier is from the cdu. on sunday might he railed his party showing in his own state. >> translation: we managed to win with a good margin. we have roughly the same result in absolute votes as five years ago when we were in a different situation, a totally different party landscape. >> reporter: this election campaign has been dominated by the refugee crisis with many suggesting the vote was a referendum on the policies of angela merkel. her popularity has slumped as the refugees have grown. in recent weeks it has recovered some what, but not in time to save her party leaders where the cdu's main opponents were victorious and ifd candidates won seats at the expense of the established parties. one political scientist told me why he felt voters choe the ifd >> they feel they are the losers of the refugee chris says. i'm not saying it is a real threat, but they feel it was and therefore they voted for this anti refugee party. >> reporter: the questions for the federal governme

for the ruling cdu, there was consolation in remaining the largest party.he state premiere is from the cdue he hailed his party's showing in his own state . we have the same as five years ago when we were in a different situation, a totally different party landscape. >> reporter: this election campaign has been dominated by the refuge crisis well many suggesting the vote was a refer endsum on the policies of angela merkel. her uponlarity has slumped as the influx of refugees has grown. in recent weeks, though, her approval rating has recovered somewhat. not in time to save her party leaders where the cdu's main opponents were victoryium and ifa candidates won seats at the expense of the established parties. one political scientist told me why he felt voters chose the ifd. >> they fear they will be the losers of the refugee crisis. i don't that as a real at least but they feel a threat and they do this. >> the questions will be what to make of the voters' verdict and where it leads them their policy on refugees. dominic kane, al jazeera. >>> for more on this