(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - The Christian-Democratic Union (CDU) and the Bavarian Christian-Social Party (CSU) remain well ahead of their rivals in Germany, according to a poll by FG Wahlen released by ZDF. 40 per cent of respondents would support either party in the next federal election.

The Social Democratic Party (SPD) is second with 26 per cent, followed by the Left Party (Linke) with 14 per cent, the Free Democratic Party (FDP) with nine per cent, and the Green Party (Grune) also with nine per cent.

Official results from the September 2005 election to the Federal Diet gave the CDU and the CSU 226 seats, with the SPD a close second with 222 legislators. Neither of the two main parties was able to assemble a coalition government with their preferred partners. In November 2005, CDU leader Angela Merkel was sworn in as Germany’s first female head of government. The current administration includes members of the CDU, CSU and SPD.

On Sept. 7, SPD leader Kurt Beck tendered his resignation. The party chose transport, building and urban affairs minister Franz Muentefering to replace Beck, and picked Frank-Walter Steinmeier to run against Merkel in the next federal election. Steinmeier has been Germany’s foreign minister since November 2005, and also serves as Germany’s vice-chancellor.

On Sept. 15, Steinmeier discussed his chances, saying, "There are still at least eight months to go before the election campaign. Angela Merkel and I are both professionals. We know that in a democracy it is completely normal for coalitions to end and for parties to seek cooperation with other parties. My goal is a fair election campaign, with arguments and without attacks. I hope the CSU and CSU see it the same way."

Germany’s next federal ballot is tentatively scheduled for September 2009.

Polling Data

What party would you vote for in the next federal election?

Source: FG Wahlen / ZDF
Methodology: Telephone interviews with 1,263 German adults, conducted from Sept. 9 to Sept. 11, 2008. Margin of error is 2.7 per cent.

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