Credit:UN/DPI Photo by Manfred Grohe

Gerhard Schroeder

(Angus Reid Global Scan) - The Christian-Democratic Union (CSU) and the Bavarian Christian-Social Party (CSU) remain the most popular political parties in Germany, according to a poll by Infratest-Dimap. 45 per cent of respondents would vote for the coalition in the next federal election.

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

The Greens are currently the SPD's coalition partner in the federal administration. Both parties have a combined support of 39 per cent, 13 per cent less than a prospective alliance between the Christian Democrats and the Free Democrats.

On May 22, the Christian Democrats won the election in North Rhine-Westphalia with 44.8 per cent of the vote. The Social Democrats had been involved in the government of Germany's most populous state since 1966.

While the next parliamentary ballot was tentatively scheduled for September 2006, Schroeder has openly suggested holding an early federal election. A confidence vote is expected before the end of the legislative period on Jul. 1.

CDU leader Angela Merkel said her party is ready for a campaign, saying, "Early elections would be good for the country. Every day on which the red-green coalition does not govern is a good day for Germany."

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