(Angus Reid Global Monitor) – Most people in Germany want the government to have higher stakes in certain industries, according to a poll by Forsa released by Stern and RTL. 77 per cent of respondents would agree with the German state taking large equity stakes in energy companies.
(Angus Reid Global Monitor) – Most people in Germany want the government to have higher stakes in certain industries, according to a poll by Forsa released by Stern and RTL. 77 per cent of respondents would agree with the German state taking large equity stakes in energy companies.
Additionally, at least 60 per cent of respondents would back heavier government involvement in banks and financial institutions, as well as in companies such as Lufthansa, Deutsche Post and Deutsche Bahn.
Germany has been hit hard by turmoil in international financial markets. Last month, the government of conservative chancellor Angela Merkel introduced an expensive rescue package aimed at stabilizing the financial system. The measure called for banks and financial institutions to borrow money from the government’s rescue fund.
On Nov. 1, Der Spiegel reported that the government may force banks to tap on the government fund and give the state some stakes in return—a model recently implemented in the United Kingdom—if they continue to ignore the fund over the next few weeks. Merkel declared: "Now it’s up to banks and financial institutions to use the package."
Polling Data
Would you agree or disagree with the German state taking large equity stakes in each of the following industries?
("Agree" listed)
|
Energy companies |
77% |
|
Banks, financial institutions |
64% |
|
Lufthansa, Deutsche Post, Deutsche Bahn |
60% |
Source: Forsa / Stern / RTL
Methodology: Telephone interviews with 1,001 German adults, conducted on Oct. 22 and Oct. 23, 2008. Margin of error is 3 per cent.
