The Bavarians particularly shun a Christian Democratic scheme that would make energy more expensive.

ECONOMIST: Who will win Germany?

In Germany, the Bavarians have reluctantly removed border posts with Austria, only to reinstate police controls further inland.

ECONOMIST: Immigration

But if it loses any more ground, Bavarians may one day find that they have an opposition after all.

ECONOMIST: Bavarian politics

If Mr Kohl's lot and the Bavarians cannot agree, say the liberals, then parliament should have a free vote next year.

ECONOMIST: Who should be German, then?

In any event, with 75%, the Bavarians still have control of Bank Austria, although remerger (or demerger) would require a 90% vote.

ECONOMIST: Bank Austria and Hypovereinsbank: Running repairs | The

By getting Mr Waigel to take the tricky finance job in the post-Strauss era, Mr Kohl bound Bavarians much more firmly with government discipline.

ECONOMIST: Bavaria

The Bavarians, especially, will fight hard to stop that.

ECONOMIST: Who should be German, then?

Mario Gomez and Thomas Mueller were on target for the Bavarians who were playing their last game at the Allianz Arena before returning to play Chelsea in the Champions League final on May 19.

CNN: Dortmund close in on another Bundesliga record

Dortmund needed to win to stop Bayern from clinching the Bundesliga title mathematically, but with the Bavarians sporting a 20-point lead and just seven games to go, it is pretty much a foregone conclusion, like a baseball team with a "magic number" of one in August.

WSJ: Rest Now, Play Soccer Later