(Angus Reid Global Monitor) – The self-described pro-business Free Democratic Party (FDP) has gained public support in Germany, according to a poll by FG Wahlen released by ZDF. 14 per cent of respondents would vote for the FDP in the next election to the Federal Diet, up three points since early January.
(Angus Reid Global Monitor) – The self-described pro-business Free Democratic Party (FDP) has gained public support in Germany, according to a poll by FG Wahlen released by ZDF. 14 per cent of respondents would vote for the FDP in the next election to the Federal Diet, up three points since early January.
The Christian-Democratic Union (CDU) and the Bavarian Christian-Social Party (CSU) continue to draw the highest level of support with 37 per cent, followed by the Social Democratic Party (SPD) with 26 per cent. The Left Party (Linke) and the Green Party (Grune) are tied with nine per cent.
The next legislative ballot is scheduled for Sept. 27. The CDU-CSU alliance has said it would likely invite the pro-business FDP to form a new federal government. Together, the CDU, CSU and FDP garner the support of 51 per cent of respondents.
Official results from the September 2005 election to the Federal Diet gave the CDU and the CSU 226 seats, with the SPD a close second with 222 legislators. Neither of the two main parties was able to assemble a coalition government with their preferred partners. In November 2005, CDU leader Angela Merkel was sworn in as Germany’s first female head of government. The current administration includes members of the CDU, CSU and SPD.
In September 2008, SPD leader Kurt Beck tendered his resignation. The party chose transport, building and urban affairs minister Franz Muentefering to replace Beck, and picked Frank-Walter Steinmeier to run against Merkel in the next federal election. Steinmeier has been Germany’s foreign minister since November 2005, and also serves as Germany’s vice-chancellor.
On Jan. 31, the CDU announced it will form a coalition government with the FDP in the state of Hesse—where Frankfurt is located—following local elections. The FDP’s Roland Koch will lead the administration. Koch praised the accord, saying, "Now we have a strong civil majority, which makes us an example for Berlin."
The next legislative ballot is scheduled for Sept. 27.
Polling Data
What party would you vote for in the next federal election?
|
|
Jan. 29 |
Jan. 8 |
Dec. 11 |
|
Christian-Democratic Union (CDU) / |
37% |
40% |
39% |
|
Social Democratic Party (SPD) |
26% |
26% |
26% |
|
Free Democratic Party (FDP) |
14% |
11% |
11% |
|
Left Party (Linke) |
9% |
10% |
10% |
|
Green Party (Grune) |
9% |
8% |
9% |
Source: FG Wahlen / ZDF
Methodology: Telephone interviews with 1,296 German adults, conducted from Jan. 27 to Jan. 29, 2009. Margin of error is 2.7 per cent.
