Nor do they much like Roland Koch, the CDU state premier.

ECONOMIST: The Free Democrats have done unexpectedly well in Hesse

On this theme, Roland Koch won the premiership of Hesse in 1999 and has suggested that his party should adopt it for its next general-election campaign.

ECONOMIST: A draconian judge turned politician is stirring up Hamburg

CDU's regional heavyweights, such as Hesse's Roland Koch, steps in.

ECONOMIST: Germany

Though tainted by a local scandal, Roland Koch, the young state premier of Hesse, has just been boosted by a remarkable vote of confidence from 98% of his local party people.

ECONOMIST: Germany

Spooked by stories of big companies firing thousands even as they make record profits, many Germans no longer believe that what is good for the economy is good for them, says Roland Koch, premier of Hesse.

ECONOMIST: The sad lack of reformers in Germany, even on the right

Nine months after an election in Hesse had produced a tie between the two main parties, the state legislature was due to replace Roland Koch, boss of the local Christian Democratic Union (CDU), as premier and to install Andrea Ypsilanti, leader of the state's Social Democrats (SPD), in his place.

ECONOMIST: Germany's Social Democrats