Chancellor Angela Merkel Faces German Voters Today

The last poll showed the centre-right’s lead over the other three parties. Photograph: Miguel Villagran/Getty Images.Little notice was paid to the fact that Angela Merkel’s decision to fly to the G20 summit demonstrated her confidence in winning rel-election today. The Guardian UK reminds us that never before has a German chancellor left the country 72 hours before a general election.

Merkel is expected to win. What’s uncertain is the identity of her coalition partner. Merkel says she prefers her Christian Democrats (CDU) to form a government with the pro-business Free Democrats (FDP), a constellation favoured by only 38% of voters. Meanwhile 49% would prefer a continuation of the present coalition of the CDU and Social Democrats (SPD) that defied widespread predictions it would prove too fractious to survive.

A final poll yesterday showed the centre-right’s lead over the other three parties – the SPD, Greens and Left – had all but evaporated. The CDU was given 33%, to 25% for the SPD, but when the smaller parties were factored in both blocs – centre-right and left-Green – were on 47%.

A quarter to a third of Germany’s 62 million voters were still undecided on their vote yesterday.

German newspaper Spiegel is tougher in their assessment of Merkel’s situation writing: German Chancellor Angela Merkel may look set for another term in office, but her political future hinges on the election result. If her CDU party ends up having to form another grand coalition with the center-left SPD, it will spell the beginning of the end of her political career.  A

Update on Sun, September 27, 2009 by Anne

via Wall Street Journal: Merkel’s Center-Right Alliance to Win German Vote