(Angus Reid Global Scan) - The coalition of the Christian-Democratic Union (CSU) and the Bavarian Christian-Social Party (CSU) is favoured to secure the highest number of seats in Germany's federal ballot, according to a poll by Forsa released by Stern and RTL. 44 per cent of respondents would support the coalition in the next election.

The governing Social Democratic Party (SPD) of chancellor Gerhard Schroeder is second with 27 per cent, followed by the Left Party (Linke)—which merges the Party of Democratic Socialism (PDS) and the Electoral Alternative for Labour and Social Justice (WASG)—with 11 per cent, the Green Party (Grune) with nine per cent, and the Free Democratic Party (FDP) with seven per cent.

On Jul. 1, Schroeder deliberately lost a no-confidence motion in the Federal Diet after a 151-296 vote, with 148 abstentions. In a Jul. 21 televised address, German president Horst Koehler agreed to hold an early ballot, saying, "In this serious situation, our country needs a government that can pursue its goals with steadiness and vigour. For this, the federal government requires the support of a reliable majority that is able to function."

The election is scheduled for Sept. 18. The CDU has named Angela Merkel as its chancellor candidate. Germany has never had a female head of government.

On Jul. 25, FDP leader Guido Westerwelle presented his platform, asking the CDU for a "political fresh start" and urging the leading party to enact reforms. The Free Democrats are opposed to raising the value added tax, which is one of the CDU's key fiscal proposals.

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