(Angus Reid Global Scan) - The Christian-Democratic Union (CSU) and the Bavarian Christian-Social Party (CSU) hold a steady level of voter support in Germany, according to a poll by Infratest-Dimap. 42 per cent of respondents would support the alliance in next month's election to the Federal Diet.

The governing Social Democratic Party (SPD) of chancellor Gerhard Schroeder is second with 30 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 nine per cent, the Green Party (Grune) with eight 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. 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 49 per cent, while the prospective total for the SPD, Grune and Linke is 47 per cent.

On Aug. 13, Schroeder advised to "take the military options off of the table" in dealing with Iran's purported nuclear capabilities, adding, "We have seen that they're not suitable." FDP leader Guido Westerwelle criticized Schroeder, saying, "I expect the German chancellor to personally talk with (United States) president Bush and not about him at campaign meetings."

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