Berlin  - Germany's main political parties suffered significant losses in local elections held in the north-western state of Schleswig-Holstein, results showed Monday.

Chancellor Angela Merkel's Christian Democrats (CDU) saw their support fall a full 12 percentage points to 38.6 per cent, but remained the largest party.

Their junior coalition partners, the Social Democrats, declined almost three points to 26.6 per cent, their worst result ever in the state at this level.

The winners were the smaller parties, with the Greens adding 2 points to secure 10.3 per cent, the liberal FDP gaining 3 points to 9.0 and the new socialist Left Party securing 6.9 per cent after not contesting the previous polls five years ago.

The SSW party, which represents the interests of the Danish-speaking minority, secured 3 per cent, while independents garnered 5.1 per cent. The far-right NPD managed to gain two seats throughout the state.

Voter turnout hit a new low of 49.5 per cent, 5 percentage points below the 2003 turnout.

The local authorities, or communes, are the third and lowest tier of government. State elections are not due before 2010.

At the federal level, the CDU is leading in the opinion polls at about 37 per cent, with the SPD on under 25 per cent, ahead of elections that must be held by September next year. (dpa)