(Angus Reid Global Scan) - The coalition of the Christian-Democratic Union (CSU) and the Bavarian Christian-Social Party (CSU) remains the most popular political group in Germany, according to a poll by Forsa released by Stern and RTL. 44 per cent of respondents would support the coalition in the next federal election.

The governing Social Democratic Party (SPD) of chancellor Gerhard Schroeder is second with 27 per cent, followed by the coalition of the Party of Democratic Socialism (PDS) and the Electoral Alternative for Labour and Social Justice (WASG) with 11 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. German president Horst Koehler has 21 days to decide whether to call an early election. There is growing speculation that the ballot could be scheduled for Sept. 18.

On Jul. 19, CDU chancellor candidate Angela Merkel outlined her views on continental integration, saying, "If the CDU wins the elections, we will have intense discussions on Turkey. After the failures of the (European Constitution) referendums in France and the Netherlands, we need to start worrying about Europe's future. We need to talk about the limits of future enlargement. We need borders. People have to know where the borders are."

Merkel has suggested that the EU should consider granting Turkey only a "privileged partnership" as opposed to full membership.

Polling Data

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

Archive Search

Over 19,600 Polls
Search the Angus Reid Global Monitor Polls & Research archive.