German conservative bloc still leading in election poll

Submitted by admin on Thu, 08/20/2009 - 20:12

German Chancellor Angela Merkel's Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and its sister party the Christian Social Union (CSU) have been leading in an election poll for three weeks, said a weekly poll published Wednesday.

The CDU/CSU bloc enjoyed 37-percent support, which was 1 percentage point down from the last poll, according to the latest Forsa poll for Stern magazine and RTL television.

Its preferred partner in the parliament, the Free Democratic Party (FDP), garnered an unchanged 13-percent support.

Support for Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier's Social Democratic Party (SPD), Merkel's current coalition partner and main election rival, rose 1 point to 22 percent.

The Green Party, the SPD's preferred partner, remained unchanged at 12 percent, the poll showed.

German's general election will be held on Sept. 27.

Merkel, her challenger Steinmeier and other candidates are currently busy with pre-election campaigns. Merkel was elected German Chancellor in November 2005.