German Elections: Angela Merkel’s poll rating collapses as re-election looms ahead

Incumbent German Chancellor Angel Merkel’s poll rating is collapsing after coalition talks failed last Sunday. After months-long negotiations, the tri-party coalition talks involving incumbent German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s Christian Democratic Union (CDU) with her sister Party Christian Social Union (CSU), pro-business Free Democratic Party (FDP), and Greens failed to produce any stable government and now, the abrupt exit of FDP from the coalition talks have pushed Germany to an uncertain political territory and clouded German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s future as the leader of Germany. The setback may see Germany hold new elections, challenging Merkel’s all but secured chancellorship.

The chances for a favorable outcome got crushed after the FDP slammed the door on exploratory talks last Sunday, with its chairman, Christian Lindner, saying that the party would rather not be in the government than agree with the terms of the proposed coalition accord. Mr. Linder had said that the parties failed to reach a common vision for the modernization of the country and have no basis for trust. He added, “It is better not to govern than to govern badly”.

Polls conducted since the collapse of the talks show that Chancellor Merkel’s popularity is facing a down slide. Of those polled, 54 percent said she should not run for office, according to the polling institute Civey for t-online.de. Only 38.5 percent said that they would welcome her candidacy.

A separate poll shows that the support for Angela Merkel’s Christian Democratic Union (CDU) has declined to just 29.2 percent, which is the lowest rating for the party since 2000. The poll also showed increased support for smaller parties like right-wing AfD, FDP, and the Green.