(Angus Reid Global Monitor) – Opposition parties in Germany are garnering more support than the governing alliance of conservatives, according to a poll by Forsa released by Stern and RTL. 35 per cent of respondents would vote for the governing Christian-Democratic Union (CDU) and its associate Bavarian Christian-Social Party (CSU) in the next election to the Federal Diet, unchanged since December.
(Angus Reid Global Monitor) – Opposition parties in Germany are garnering more support than the governing alliance of conservatives, according to a poll by Forsa released by Stern and RTL. 35 per cent of respondents would vote for the governing Christian-Democratic Union (CDU) and its associate Bavarian Christian-Social Party (CSU) in the next election to the Federal Diet, unchanged since December.
The Social Democratic Party (SPD) is second with 22 per cent, followed by the Green Party (Grune) with 14 per cent, the Left Party (Linke) with 11 per cent, and the Free Democratic Party (FDP) with 10 per cent. Together, the SPD, Greens and Linke garner 47 per cent of the vote, while the governing CDU, CSU and FDP stand at 45 per cent.
In November 2005, CDU leader Angela Merkel was sworn in as Germany’s first female head of government following a federal election. Her "Grand Coalition" administration featured members of the CDU, CSU and SPD.
In September 2009, German voters participated in a new federal election. Final results gave the CDU-CSU 33.8 per cent of the vote and 239 seats, followed by the SPD with 23 per cent and 146 mandates. This time, Merkel invited the FDP to form a government. FDP leader Guido Westerwelle serves as foreign minister.
On Jan. 20, Merkel responded to criticism to her government’s plans to introduce large tax cuts, saying, "We are convinced that tax relief is necessary and will even foster growth. (…) Unlike the Social Democrats, who haven’t done anything for the past ten years, we are sticking to our election programme."
Polling Data
What party would you support in Germany’s next federal election?
|
|
Jan. 8 |
Dec. 18 |
Dec. 11 |
|
Christian-Democratic Union (CDU) / |
35% |
35% |
37% |
|
Social Democratic Party (SPD) |
22% |
21% |
19% |
|
Green Party (Grune) |
14% |
13% |
13% |
|
Left Party (Linke) |
11% |
11% |
12% |
|
Free Democratic Party (FDP) |
10% |
12% |
11% |
Source: Forsa / Stern / RTL
Methodology: Telephone interviews with 2,501 German adults, conducted from Jan. 4 to Jan. 8, 2010. Margin of error is 2.5 per cent.
