Angus Reid Global Monitor : Polls & Research

Germany’s Grand Coalition is Losing Steam

June 11, 2008
Abstract: (Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Public support for Germany’s governing parties has dwindled this month, according to a poll by Infratest-Dimap. 34 per cent of respondents would vote for the Christian-Democratic Union (CDU) or the Bavarian Christian-Social Party (CSU) in the next federal election, while 24 per cent would back the Social Democratic Party (SPD).

(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Public support for Germany’s governing parties has dwindled this month, according to a poll by Infratest-Dimap. 34 per cent of respondents would vote for the Christian-Democratic Union (CDU) or the Bavarian Christian-Social Party (CSU) in the next federal election, while 24 per cent would back the Social Democratic Party (SPD).

The Left Party (Linke) is third with 14 per cent, followed by the Free Democratic Party (FDP) with 13 per cent, and the Green Party (Grune) with 12 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, Merkel discussed her views on bio-fuels, saying, "We must make sure that bio-fuel production does not compete with crop cultivation, that it does not interfere with the need to produce food."

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. 4

May 14

Apr. 30

Christian-Democratic Union (CDU) /
Bavarian Christian-Social Party (CSU)

34%

36%

37%

Social Democratic Party (SPD)

24%

25%

27%

Left Party (Linke)

14%

12%

12%

Free Democratic Party (FDP)

13%

11%

10%

Green Party (Grune)

12%

12%

10%

Source: Infratest-Dimap
Methodology: Telephone interviews with 1,500 German voters, conducted from Jun. 2 to Jun. 4, 2008. Margin of error is 3.1 per cent.