June 20, 2008

Abstract: (Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Germany’s governing Christian-Democratic Union (CDU) and Bavarian Christian-Social Party (CSU) remain the most popular political organizations in the country, according to a poll by FG Wahlen released by ZDF. 39 per cent of respondents would vote for either of the conservative parties in the next election to the Federal Diet, down one point since early May.

(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Germany’s governing Christian-Democratic Union (CDU) and Bavarian Christian-Social Party (CSU) remain the most popular political organizations in the country, according to a poll by FG Wahlen released by ZDF. 39 per cent of respondents would vote for either of the conservative parties in the next election to the Federal Diet, down one point since early May.

The Social Democratic Party (SPD) is behind 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) also with 10 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. 18, all cabinet ministers endorsed a bill proposing new ways of curbing pollution in Germany that will now be debated in the two houses of the legislature. The bill includes guidelines to lower electricity consumption in private houses and buildings, and a new series of tolls for vehicles according to their emission levels. Older trucks, for instance, will pay higher tolls than newer, more environmentally-friendly ones.

Environment minister Sigmar Gabriel praised the bill, deeming it "the largest worldwide—perhaps even the only—such package aimed at reaching climate goals."

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

Polling Data

What party would you vote for in the next federal election?

	Jun. 11	May 8	Apr. 17
Christian-Democratic Union (CDU) / Bavarian Christian-Social Party (CSU)	39%	40%	40%
Social Democratic Party (SPD)	26%	27%	27%
Left Party (Linke)	11%	11%	11%
Green Party (Grune)	10%	9%	9%
Free Democratic Party (FDP)	10%	8%	8%

Source: FG Wahlen / ZDF
Methodology: Telephone interviews with 1,257 German adults, conducted from Jun. 9 to Jun. 11, 2008. Margin of error is 2.7 per cent.