(ANSA-AFP) - MAINZ, MAR 22 - German Chancellor Friedrich Merz's conservative CDU party ousted the centre-left Social Democratic Party on Sunday in a closely watched state election in which the far right also made big gains, according to exit polls. The CDU took around 30 percent of the vote to win the western state of Rhineland-Palatinate away from the SPD after 35 years, while the far-right Alternative for Germany party (AfD) looked set for a record score in western Germany, with around 20 percent, according to two public TV networks' exit polls. (ANSA-AFP).