(Angus Reid Global Scan) – The current head of government is gaining public support in Germany, according to a poll by Infratest-Dimap. 51 per cent of respondents would prefer Gerhard Schroeder of the Social Democratic Party (SPD) as chancellor, up four points in a week.
(Angus Reid Global Scan) – The current head of government is gaining public support in Germany, according to a poll by Infratest-Dimap. 51 per cent of respondents would prefer Gerhard Schroeder of the Social Democratic Party (SPD) as chancellor, up four points in a week.
Schroeder has acted as Germany’s chancellor since October 1998, winning a new four-year mandate in the September 2002 election. The SPD formed a coalition government with the Greens (Grune).
On Jul. 1, Schroeder deliberately lost a no-confidence motion in the Federal Diet after a 151-296 vote, with 148 abstentions. A federal election has been scheduled for Sept. 18.
Christian-Democratic Union (CDU) leader Angela Merkel is second with 35 per cent, up two points in a week. On May 30, the CDU officially named Merkel as its chancellor candidate. Recent voting intention polls suggest that the Christian Democrats and the Free Democratic Party (FDP) might be able to elect enough lawmakers to the 603-seat Federal Diet to form the next administration.
Earlier this month, the two leading contenders agreed on the format for a 90-minute televised debate, which will take place on Sept. 4. Four television journalists will act as moderators.
Polling Data
Who would you prefer as federal chancellor?
Aug. 16 | Aug. 10 | Aug. 3 | |
Gerhard Schroeder (SPD) | 51% | 47% | 48% |
Angela Merkel (CDU) | 35% | 33% | 39% |
Source: Infratest-Dimap
Methodology: Telephone interviews to 1,000 German voters, conducted on Aug. 15 and Aug. 16, 2005. Margin of error is 3.1 per cent.
