Merkel frontrunner, but situation still fluid in German elections
22 Sept 2013 3:36 AM IST
Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservative bloc is in a leading position but it is not definite that the current governing coalition would continue to hold on to power, an exit poll said ahead of Sunday's election in Germany. With her successful stewardship of Europe's largest economy and her adherence to principles in handling the euro zone debt crisis, Merkel won her Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and its Bavarian sister party Christian Social Union (CSU) a high approval rate, Xinhua reported.
In a poll released by Forsa institute Friday, the CDU/CSU union garnered 40 percent support, 14 points ahead of its main rival, the Social Democratic Party (SPD).
But Merkel's pro-business partner Free Democratic Party (FDP) attained five percent, just enough to meet the threshold to enter parliament. The SPD's preferred ally, the Greens, gained a support rate of 10 percent. The Left, another party which could enter the legislature, netted nine percent.
In Germany, a ruling party or coalition needs a majority of seats in the parliament. The Forsa poll indicates that the Sunday election would run neck and neck.
Merkel's conservative bloc may be forced to form a ‘grand coalition’ with the centre-left SPD, should the FDP fail to get a support rate of five percent.
The FDP has been wiggling around the five percent hurdle for months. It became pressing when the party failed to win any seat in the Bavarian parliament last Sunday though the CSU captured an absolute majority of 48.3 percent.
For the coming federal election, FDP has called for supporters of CDU/CSU to give their second votes to the FDP in order to continue the current governing coalition. German voters could cast two votes, the first for a specific candidate to represent their constituencies, the second for a party.
Meanwhile, Merkel has appealed to peopel for voting as latest polls suggest a highly suspenseful election Sunday, although she appeared all set for a third term. Merkel sent letters to about five million voters Friday to appeal for their votes.
In a poll released by Forsa institute Friday, the CDU/CSU union garnered 40 percent support, 14 points ahead of its main rival, the Social Democratic Party (SPD).
But Merkel's pro-business partner Free Democratic Party (FDP) attained five percent, just enough to meet the threshold to enter parliament. The SPD's preferred ally, the Greens, gained a support rate of 10 percent. The Left, another party which could enter the legislature, netted nine percent.
In Germany, a ruling party or coalition needs a majority of seats in the parliament. The Forsa poll indicates that the Sunday election would run neck and neck.
Merkel's conservative bloc may be forced to form a ‘grand coalition’ with the centre-left SPD, should the FDP fail to get a support rate of five percent.
The FDP has been wiggling around the five percent hurdle for months. It became pressing when the party failed to win any seat in the Bavarian parliament last Sunday though the CSU captured an absolute majority of 48.3 percent.
For the coming federal election, FDP has called for supporters of CDU/CSU to give their second votes to the FDP in order to continue the current governing coalition. German voters could cast two votes, the first for a specific candidate to represent their constituencies, the second for a party.
Meanwhile, Merkel has appealed to peopel for voting as latest polls suggest a highly suspenseful election Sunday, although she appeared all set for a third term. Merkel sent letters to about five million voters Friday to appeal for their votes.
Next Story
