By KUNA
Berlin : Two German states of Lower Saxony and southwestern Hesse elected their representative councils here on Sunday.
Initial results show that the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), led by Christian Wolf, gained 42 percent against 48 percent in the 2003 polls, Social Democrats, led by Heinrich Wilhelm; 31 percent compared to 33.4 percent in the previous polls, and Free Democratic Party (FDP); 7.8 percent against 8.1 percent in the previous elections.
The Green Party got eight percent of votes against 7.6 percent in the 2003 elections, while the Left won 7.1 percent compared to 0.5 percent in the previous elections.
In Hesse, the CDU, led by Roland Koch, garnered 36.5 percent, Social Democrats, led by Andreas Ypsilanti; 37.3 percent, FDP; 9.3 percent, Green; 7.5 percent and Left; five percent.
Observers here consider these elections as a test for the public support of main political parties in Germany, especially following the elapse of two years since the federal legislative elections, which are held once every four years.