In German Election Polls, Merkel Falters And Schulz Surges

Some interesting developments in the run up to German elections as the announcement of former European Parliament President Martin Schulz as the candidate for the center left Social Democratic Party (SPD) has apparently given an enormous boost to that party. In addition, the evidence of at least a small split over the immigration issue between the two center right parties, the Christian Social Union (CSU) and the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) led by Angela Merkel, is weakening support for that coalition slightly. Germany is currently governed by a Grand Coalition between the CDU/CSU and SDP parties.

In recent polls, the SDP has seen its support climb shockingly fast since Schulz's announcement as candidate for chancellor. One poll has SDP support rising eight points and another has it up six, while still trailing the CDU/CSU coalition by around five or six points. Additionally, polls show that a majority of voters would prefer the SDP candidate to take over the leadership of the country while still maintaining the current Grand Coalition.

Meanwhile, Merkel's CDU party has seen its poll numbers drop around three points and a poll of a head-to-head matchup between Merkel and Schulz has shown Merkel's support dropping by seven points and Schulz rising by nine, with Schulz now holding a significant 50-34 lead. However, the German voting system is not a head to head matchup so this is more like a popularity poll than one with any political weight. But it is significant nonetheless.