(09/24/09) -

Germanys CDU/CSU and FDP at 48% as Election Nears

Angus Reid Global Monitor) – A potential
coalition of conservative parties could win enough votes in this
weekend’s ballot in Germany,
according to a poll by Forsa released by Stern and RTL. 35 per cent of
respondents would back the ruling Christian-Democratic Union (CDU) and its
associate Bavarian Christian-Social Party (CSU) in Sunday’s election to the
Federal Diet, down two points since mid-September.

Angus Reid Global Monitor) – A potential
coalition of conservative parties could win enough votes in this
weekend’s ballot in Germany,
according to a poll by Forsa released by Stern and RTL. 35 per cent of
respondents would back the ruling Christian-Democratic Union (CDU) and its
associate Bavarian Christian-Social Party (CSU) in Sunday’s election to the
Federal Diet, down two points since mid-September.

The Social Democratic Party (SPD) is second
with 26 per cent—up two points—, followed by the Free Democratic Party (FDP)
with 13 per cent, the Green Party (Grune) with 11 per cent, and the Left Party
(Linke) with 10 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 48 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 Sept. 19, Merkel accused the SDP of
wanting to form a coalition with the Left Party, which is considered to be in
the far-left of the political spectrum. The chancellor said that, "Some in
the SPD are dreaming of working together with the Left earlier. Maybe as soon
as 2012 or 2011."

Steinmeier denied the accusation,
declaring, "I have been quite clear about what I don’t want—a coalition
with the Left Party.”

Polling Data

What party would you support in Germany’s next
federal election? 

Source: Forsa / Stern / RTL
Methodology: Telephone interviews with 2,503 German adults, conducted from Sept.15
to Sept. 21, 2009. Margin of error is 2.5 per cent.