August 19, 2004

Abstract: (CPOD) Aug. 19, 2004 - Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder and foreign minister Joschka Fischer remain popular in Germany, according to a poll by Forsa released by Stern and RTL. 49 per cent of respondents would prefer to keep the Social Democratic Party (SPD) politicians in their respective posts, while 30 per cent would choose Christian-Democratic Union (CDU) leader Angela Merkel and Free Democratic Pa

(CPOD) Aug. 19, 2004 - Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder and foreign minister Joschka Fischer remain popular in Germany, according to a poll by Forsa released by Stern and RTL. 49 per cent of respondents would prefer to keep the Social Democratic Party (SPD) politicians in their respective posts, while 30 per cent would choose Christian-Democratic Union (CDU) leader Angela Merkel and Free Democratic Party (FDP) chief Guido Westerwelle.

The CDU and coalition partner Bavarian Christian-Social Union (CSU) have consistently topped voting intention polls in Germany for the past year. In March, parliamentarian Franz Muentefering took over as new federal SPD leader. Germany's laws allow Schroeder to retain his position as chancellor even if he is no longer a party leader.

In an interview published in late July, current Bavarian premier Edmund Stoiber—who commanded the CDU-CSU coalition in the 2002 election to the Federal Diet—indicated that he would not challenge current leader Merkel. Germany has never had a female head of government.

The next parliamentary ballot is tentatively scheduled for September 2006.

Polling Data

Which of these two teams would you prefer as chancellor and foreign minister of Germany?

Gerhard Schroeder / Joschka Fischer (SPD)	49%
Angela Merkel (CDU) / Guido Westerwelle (FDP)	30%
Don't know	21%

Source: Forsa / Stern / RTL
Methodology: Interviews to 1,002 German adults, conducted on Aug. 5 and Aug. 6, 2004. Margin of error is 3 per cent.