The Bundesrat is composed of representatives of the state governments. That is, if there is a coalition government in a state, the state's representatives will have to represent all coalition parties, which means abstaining in case of conflict.

It's not CDU but CDU/CSU+FDP that is losing a majority: with the representatives of states with CDU+SPD, CDU+Greens and CDU+FDP+Greens governments, the CDU/CSU will continue to influence the vote of a big majority in the Bundesrat, regardless of what coalition forms in NRW now.

_{*Lunatic*, n.
One whose delusions are out of fashion.}

German Chancellor Angela Merkel's party and its coalition allies have been defeated in regional elections in North Rhine-Westphalia, exit polls suggest.

If confirmed, this could see Mrs Merkel's national coalition lose its majority in the upper house of parliament, the Bundesrat.

The campaign has been overshadowed by the government's decision to contribute to a huge rescue package for Greece.

Meanwhile many cities in NRW are on the brink of bankruptcy.