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Angus Reid Global Monitor : Polls & Research
Conservatives Keep Solid Advantage in Germany
(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Most Germans continue to support the conservative parties in the governing coalition, according to a poll by Forsa released by Stern and RTL. 36 per cent of respondents would back the Christian-Democratic Union (CDU) and the Bavarian Christian-Social Party (CSU) in the next federal ballot, down two points since late July.
The Social Democratic Party (SPD) is second with 25 per cent, followed by the Left Party (Linke) with 13 per cent, the Free Democratic Party (FDP) with 11 per cent, and the Green Party (Grune) with nine per cent.
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.
Earlier this month, German deputy foreign minister Gernot Erler discussed the country's participation in the war on terrorism in Afghanistan, and acknowledged that the mission "causes concern among the public." Erler added: "The Germans want more emphasis on humanitarian issues and civilian reconstruction rather than on the military."
Polling Data
What party would you support in Germany's next federal election?
Aug. 3 | Jul. 20 | Jul. 13 | |
Christian-Democratic Union | 36% | 38% | 38% |
Social Democratic Party (SPD) | 25% | 25% | 24% |
Left Party (Linke) | 13% | 13% | 13% |
Free Democratic Party (FDP) | 11% | 9% | 10% |
Green Party (Grune) | 9% | 10% | 10% |
Source: Forsa / Stern / RTL
Methodology: Interviews with 2,502 German adults, conducted from Jul. 30 to Aug. 3, 2007. Margin of error is 2.5 per cent.