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FxWirePro: Germany’s AfD Party gains popularity as coalition talks yet to result in stable government

Germany’s biggest parties, namely Angela Merkel’s Christian Democratic Union (CDU), its main opponent the Social Democrats (SPD) have so far failed to form a government since the election on September 24th. Initially, SPD ruled out forming a governing coalition with CDU and its sister party Christian Social Union (CSU) but as the so-called ‘Jamaica coalition’ talks failed in November with the Free Democrats (FDP) moving out, the SPD has joined the coalition talks to form a grand coalition of CDU, CSU, SPD and the Greens.

Many of the SPD lawmakers were opposed to forming a coalition with CDU, which whom they have governed Germany for almost a decade. In January 279 delegates of the SPD Party voted against such coalition while 362 voted in favor with one abstention. After the voting, the coalition talks began formally, however, it has failed so far to result in a stable government. The delegates of the SPD would once again vote on the latest coalition agreement and the result is not due until March first week.

While the talks continue, the latest survey conducted by INSA polling center for the German Bild daily newspaper shows that the popularity of Germany’s anti-immigrant party, known as AfD (Alternate for Deutschland)  is on the rise while the support for SPD tumbles. While AfD’s support rose to 16 percent, SPD’s fell to just 15.5 percent, much lower than 20.6 percent they received in the election. The popularity of CDU remains at 32 percent.

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