(CPOD) Oct. 19, 2004 - While still in first place, the coalition of the Christian-Democratic Union (CDU) and the Bavarian Christian-Social Party (CSU) is losing public support in Germany, according to a poll by Infratest-Dimap. 41 per cent of respondents would vote for the alliance in the next election to the Federal Diet.

The ruling Social Democratic Party (SPD) of chancellor Gerhard Schroeder is in second place with 29 per cent. The Green Party (Grune) is third with 12 per cent, followed by the Free Democratic Party (FDP) and the Party of Democratic Socialism (PDS).

The coalition has been embroiled in internal problems, after some CSU members criticized CDU leader Angela Merkel for her stance on health care. Last week, CDU member Friedrich Merz sent Merkel a resignation letter. Merz—the CDU's deputy parliamentary chief—will step down at the end of the year.

Thuringia premier and CDU member Dieter Althaus hinted last weekend that the strife may have occurred because Merkel is a woman from the east, saying, "I cannot believe that all this has happened by accident." Althaus' comments drew a stern reply from Lower Saxony premier Christian Wulff, who said, "One cannot simply go public the way Althaus has done because it damages the party."

The next parliamentary ballot is tentatively scheduled for September 2006.

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