(Adnkronos) – Who has the best chance of leading the next government after the snap elections on February 23 in Germany? 44% of the sample of around 2,200 people interviewed from Friday to yesterday in a Yougov poll for Dpa named Friedrich Merz, president of the CDU, candidate for chancellor for the Union (CDU-CSU). Only 6% believe that outgoing Chancellor Olaf Scholz has a better chance, 7% are betting on the Green candidate for chancellor and outgoing Economy Minister Robert Habeck.
More than a quarter of the sample, however (29%), are unable to pronounce on the possible outcome of the vote, 13% – even when asked for an assessment independent of their own political preferences – named Alice Weidel, candidate for the AfD, a party growing but far from the absolute majority needed to govern without the support of other political forces. And none of the other parties are willing to form a coalition with the far-right party. Even the choice of a future coalition raises doubts: 44% ‘don’t know’ when asked which one they would prefer.
The chances of outgoing Chancellor Olaf Scholz are also considered slim by voters who voted for the SPD in 2021: only 8 percent of them, slightly more than the average of all respondents, expect a second term. Merz is given better chances by voters of all age groups, but is clearly the favorite among the elderly. In the over-70s group, the percentage is 57%. Scholz, on the other hand, only has 3%. (continued)
When asked which coalition the interviewees would like after the vote – in addition to the many who are unable to express an opinion – 35% say they are in favor of a grand coalition between the Union parties and the SPD, 15% would like a coalition between the Union and the Greens. One thing is clear: only 5% of those interviewed would like a new edition of the traffic light coalition made up of the SPD, Greens and FDP.
Finally, when asked which of the parties in the previous government will benefit most from the end of the traffic light coalition, 42% answer none. 13% believe it is the SPD, 12% the FDP and 9% the Greens. About a quarter of respondents did not answer.
