(Angus Reid Global Monitor) – People in Germany have shown no change of heart regarding their political preferences in an election year, according to a poll by Forsa released by Stern and RTL. 36 per cent of respondents would vote for the ruling Christian-Democratic Union (CDU) or the Bavarian Christian-Social Party (CSU) in the September federal ballot.
(Angus Reid Global Monitor) – People in Germany have shown no change of heart regarding their political preferences in an election year, according to a poll by Forsa released by Stern and RTL. 36 per cent of respondents would vote for the ruling Christian-Democratic Union (CDU) or the Bavarian Christian-Social Party (CSU) in the September federal ballot.
The Social Democratic Party (SPD) is second with 25 per cent, followed by the Free Democratic Party (FDP) with 15 per cent, and both the Left Party (Linke) and the Green Party (Grune) 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 May 5, Merkel—who grew up in East Germany during the Cold War—visited a former Stasi prison used by the infamous East German secret police to interrogate and keep opponents of the communist regime. The chancellor declared: "We should think particularly this year, 2009, of those who showed courage. It is very, very important that we do not blot out, that we do not forget this chapter in East German history."
Polling Data
What party would you support in Germany’s next federal election?
|
|
Apr. 24 |
Apr. 17 |
Apr. 3 |
|
Christian-Democratic Union (CDU) / |
36% |
35% |
36% |
|
Social Democratic Party (SPD) |
25% |
23% |
24% |
|
Free Democratic Party (FDP) |
15% |
16% |
16% |
|
Left Party (Linke) |
9% |
11% |
10% |
|
Green Party (Grune) |
9% |
10% |
10% |
Source: Forsa / Stern / RTL
Methodology: Telephone interviews with 2,001 German adults, conducted from Apr. 20 to Apr. 24, 2009. Margin of error is 2.5 per cent.
