(Angus Reid - CPOD Global Scan) - The political scene remains tight in Germany, according to a poll by Forsa released by Stern and RTL. 38 per cent of respondents would vote for the coalition of the Christian-Democratic Union (CDU) and the Bavarian Christian-Social Party (CSU) in the next election to the Federal Diet, while 35 per cent would support the governing Social Democratic Party (SPD) of chancellor Gerhard Schroeder.

The Green Party (Grune) is in third place with 10 per cent, followed by 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.

In September, the CDU-CSU coalition held a 12 per cent advantage over the ruling SPD. The lead is down to three per cent in the last two surveys. The alliance has quarrelled over which candidate should challenge Schroeder in the next parliamentary ballot, tentatively scheduled for September 2006.

On Dec. 26, large areas of Asia and parts of Africa were ravaged by the worst earthquake and tsunamis to hit the regions in four decades. More than 162,000 people have died, including at least 60 German citizens. On Jan. 4, Schroeder committed $686 million U.S. in aid to the afflicted countries, making Germany the biggest donor to date.

CDU leader Angela Merkel demanded Schroeder to explain how Germany's contribution to the relief effort would be spent. The chancellor dismissed the opposition leader's comment as "extremely petty-minded."

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