(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - The Christian-Democratic Union (CDU) and the Bavarian Christian-Social Party (CSU) are enjoying stable popular support in Germany, according to a poll by Forsa released by Stern and RTL. 39 per cent of respondents would back either of the two right-leaning parties in the next election to the Federal Diet, down one point since mid-October.

The Social Democratic Party (SPD) is second with 26 per cent, followed by the Left Party (Linke) with 11 per cent, the Green Party (Grune) with 10 per cent, and the Free Democratic Party (FDP) 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 recent days, Merkel and current SPD leader Kurt Beck have disagreed on a series of economic reforms proposed by the chancellor. On Nov. 4, Merkel chided the SPD’s stand against her reforms, saying, "Not everything that at first glance looks attractive is also good for Germany." The chancellor added that her government would not lose its "compass" on reforms, and declared: "The public values the fact that (the coalition) keeps its promises. That means we are still aiming for solid finances, a balanced federal budget by 2011 and further cuts in non-wage labour costs."

Polling Data

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

Source: Forsa / Stern / RTL
Methodology: Interviews with 2,503 German adults, conducted from Oct. 22 to Oct. 26, 2007. Margin of error is 2.5 per cent.

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