(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - The Christian-Democratic Union (CDU) and the Bavarian Christian-Social Party (CSU) remain the most popular political organizations in Germany, according to a poll by Forsa released by Stern and RTL. 37 per cent of respondents would vote for either party in the next election to the Federal Diet, up one point since late October.

The Social Democratic Party (SPD) is second with 23 per cent, followed by the Left Party (Linke) with 13 per cent, the Free Democratic Party (FDP) with 12 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.

In September, 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 Nov. 10, Muentefering ruled out the possibility of an administration featuring Merkel and FDP leader Guido Westervelle, saying, "I am sure we can prevent a CDU-FDP government at the federal level because the time of market radicalism is over."

Germany’s next federal ballot is tentatively scheduled for September 2009.

Polling Data

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

Source: Forsa / Stern / RTL
Methodology: Telephone interviews with 2,501 German adults, conducted from Nov. 3 to Nov. 7, 2008. Margin of error is 3 per cent.

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