(Angus Reid Global Scan) - The Christian-Democratic Union (CSU) and the Bavarian Christian-Social Party (CSU) remain the top political group in Germany, according to a poll by Infratest-Dimap. 44 per cent of respondents would vote for the coalition in the next 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. The next parliamentary ballot is tentatively scheduled for September 2006.

Last weekend, CDU leader Angela Merkel campaigned in North-Rhine Westphalia, which will hold its state election on May 22. Merkel asked the electorate to enact a power shift, saying, "Every day you shell out millions in interest repayments alone that could otherwise be invested in your future. If you want that to change, you will have to vote for change."

The Social Democrats have been involved in the government of Germany's most populous state since 1966. North Rhine-Westphalia includes the cities of Cologne and Duesseldorf, and is home to several large retailers and energy companies.

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