Foreign Affairs
Merkel’s Poll Ratings At Record-Low After Failure To Form Government
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German Chancellor Angela Merkel is suffering the lowest poll ratings since taking charge of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) 17 years ago after her proposed government formation collapsed Sunday.
CDU and its sister party the Christian Social Union won the general election in September after receiving 33 percent of the votes. Merkel’s fourth term is in jeopardy after the Free Democrats pulled out of coalition negotiations and Germans appear to be losing patience over the situation.
With the possibility of a snap election in the spring, CDU’s popularity has plummeted below 30 percent for the first time since Merkel was named party leader in 2000. A SPON-Wahltrend poll conducted for magazine Der Spiegel shows 29.2 percent’s support for CDU. A majority of Germans, 54 percent, don’t want her to run if a snap poll is called, according to a t-online survey. Just 38.5 percent still back another run.
Merkel hinted at a new election Monday as she wants to avoid a weak minority government with the Green party.
“I’m very skeptical,” Merkel said of the possibility of running a minority government. “My point of view is that new elections would be the better path.”
German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier wants to avoid a new election and he is currently in talks with several parties to sort out the situation.
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