MUNICH (Reuters) – Bavarians cast their ballots on Sunday in an election that is expected to hand Angela Merkel’s allies nearly 50 percent of the vote, giving the German chancellor and her conservatives momentum a week before a federal election.

MUNICH (Reuters) – Angela Merkel’s allies look set to win almost 50 percent of the vote in the rich southern state of Bavaria on Sunday, helping the German chancellor and her conservatives with a show of strength a week before a federal election.