Saarbruecken, Germany The far-right, anti-foreigner NPD won 4 per cent and thus failed to clear the five per cent hurdle required to win seats under German election law. But the NPD's good showing still shocked many observers with exit polls by Germany's ZDF public TV showing most of the far-right party's voters being former supporters of Schroeder's SPD from either the working class or the ranks of the unemployed. The Saar election results mean the state's CDU Premier Peter Mueller returns to office with his absolute majority intact. Mueller took power five years ago after a slim victory when the CDU ousted the ruling SPD by taking 45.5 per cent, compared to 44.4 per cent. The CDU is Germany's key opposition force in Berlin and the Saar vote is a slap in the face for Schroeder given that national issues played a major role in a state which in the 1980s and 90s was an SPD stronghold. Elections in the Saar came after repeated mass demonstrations over the Schroeder government's planned cuts to jobless benefits. Trimming back Germany's relatively generous welfare state has eroded support for the SPD among traditional left-wing voters and fueled weekly protests which last Monday drew 70,000 people, mainly in depressed eastern Germany. --More 2326 Local Time 2026 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/198431