(Angus Reid Global Scan) - The coalition of the Christian-Democratic Union (CSU) and the Bavarian Christian-Social Party (CSU) remains ahead in Germany's electoral race, according to a poll by FG Wahlen released by ZDF. 43 per cent of respondents would support the alliance in next month's Federal Diet ballot.

The governing Social Democratic Party (SPD) of chancellor Gerhard Schroeder is second with 30 per cent, followed by the Green Party (Grune), the Left Party (Linke)—which merges the Party of Democratic Socialism (PDS) and the Electoral Alternative for Labour and Social Justice (WASG)—and the Free Democratic Party (FDP) all with eight per cent.

On Jul. 1, Schroeder deliberately lost a no-confidence motion in the Federal Diet after a 151-296 vote, with 148 abstentions. A federal election has been scheduled for Sept. 18. The CDU has named Angela Merkel as its chancellor candidate. Germany has never had a female head of government.

The FDP is considered as the most likely coalition partner for the CDU-CSU alliance. Support for the combined political organizations is at 51 per cent, while the prospective total for the SPD, Grune and Linke is 46 per cent.

On Aug. 27, Schroeder vowed to support Turkey's accession into the European Union (EU), declaring, "Turkey has fulfilled all its promises. Now it is time we honour ours." In February 2004, Merkel suggested that the EU should consider granting Turkey only a "privileged partnership" as opposed to full membership.

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