(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - The Christian-Democratic Union (CDU) and the Bavarian Christian-Social Party (CSU) remain at the top of Germany’s political scene, according to a poll by Forsa released by Stern and RTL. 36 per cent of respondents would vote for either party in the next federal election, up one point in a week.

The Social Democratic Party (SPD) is second with 21 per cent, followed by the Left Party (Linke) with 14 per cent, the Free Democratic Party (FDP) with 13 per cent, and the Green Party (Grune) with 11 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.

On Jun. 1, FDP leader Guido Westerwelle discussed his party’s chances in the next ballot, saying, "I believe we will get a clear-cut result next time. (...) We will enter the election campaigns with our own, independent profile. I’m more interested in solving the problems of our people than listening to what Angela Merkel and (SDP leader) Kurt Beck tell their party delegates."

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: Interviews with 2,501 German adults, conducted from Jun. 9 to Jun. 13, 2008. Margin of error is 2.5 per cent.

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