• Germany edition
Politics
Photo: DPA

Lower Saxony win boosts SPD and Greens

Published: 30 Jan 13 10:29 CET | Print version
Online: http://www.thelocal.de/politics/20130130-47637.html

Germany's Social Democrats (SPD) and the Greens are enjoying a boost in national support after a state election victory in Lower Saxony, a new poll revealed on Wednesday.

In a Forsa survey for Stern magazine and broadcaster RTL, the SPD climbed two percentage points in a week, bagging 25 percent of potential voter support. The Greens rose one point from to 15 percent.

Less rosy were the figures for Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservative Christian Democratic Union (CDU), which dropped two percent points between this week and last, putting them at 40 percent of the votes.

Forsa boss Manfred Güllner said the dip could be linked to the CDU losing power in Lower Saxony: “That the CDU has lost another state has left lots of followers disappointed and unsure.”

This means that the Christian Democrats and their Bavarian allies, the Christian Social Union (CSU), are still 15 percent points ahead of their main challenger, the SPD.

Only with the Greens support can the SPD pull level with their conservative rivals.

The conservatives' troubled junior coalition partner, the Free Democrats (FDP) continued to flail at the bottom of the ladder this week, though, racking up just four percent.

If this were to hold until September's general election, the pro-business FDP would not get into parliament.

The upstart Pirate party also lost a point this week, falling to three percent while staunch socialists The Left remained firmly at eight percent.

The Local/jcw

What do you think? Leave your comment below.


Your comments about this article:

08:11 January 31, 2013 by DOZ
Toss Merkel before its to late.
ADD YOUR COMMENT   (YOU MUST LOG IN OR REGISTER TO MAKE A COMMENT)
Today's headlines
Photo: DPA

Bayern defeat Dortmund in Wembley thriller

Arjen Robben scored a heart-stopping 89th-minute winner to earn Bayern Munich a dramatic 2-1 win over German rivals Borussia Dortmund on Saturday after a thrilling Champions League final at London's Wembley Stadium. READ () »

Photo: DPA

Merkel: business must fight immigrant prejudice

Chancellor Angela Merkel on Saturday called on Germans to fight prejudice against immigrants ahead of next week's integration summit. READ () »

Chinese premier visit to strengthen trade ties

Chinese premier visit to strengthen trade ties

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang will meet German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Sunday as the two export powerhouses seek to further strengthen economic ties amid brewing trade spats between Beijing and the EU. READ () »

Photo: DPA

Skyscraper festival hits new heights in Frankfurt

Frankfurt city skyline is being celebrated this weekend with a skyscraper extravaganza. Hundreds of thousands of visitors are expected to witness spectacular events, daring feats and music in the sky. READ () »

Workers get Berlin's fan mile ready ahead of Saturday's final. Photo: DPA

Police put Germany on terror alert for CL final

German security services have been put on high alert after picking up terror warnings for public viewings of Saturday night's all-German Champions League final. READ () »

Photo: DPA

Helicopter sprays 220 kids with insecticide

15 young children were taken to hospital late on Friday after bug-busting authorities in North Rhine-Westphalia accidentally dumped toxic insecticide over a primary school during playtime. READ () »

Photo: DPA

Bundesbank chief: allow eurozone defaults

The head of the German central Bundesbank Jens Weidmann said on Friday that eurozone countries should be able to default, a possibility which the EU has gone to great lengths to avoid during the current crisis. READ () »

Photo: DPA

Nationwide cannabis limit rolls nearer

Germany could in the future have a country-wide “tolerable limit” for cannabis possession, it was reported on Friday. Currently, this amount differs between states. READ () »

More Politics
RECEIVE OUR NEWSLETTER AND ALERTS
Highlights
Photo: DPA
OPINION »
The country's most revered and reviled composer, Richard Wagner is our German of the week in time for his 200th birthday.
Photo: DPA Photo: DPA Photo: DPA Photo: DPA Photo: Private Photo: DPA Photo: DPA Photo: DPA Photo: DPA Photo: DPA Photo: DPA Photo: M&S Photo: Private Photo: Katie Needs Photo: DPA Photo: DPA Photo: A Peoples' Picture Photo: Private Photo: DPA Photo: Private Photo: DPA Photo: DPA Photo: DPA Monster/jobpilot.de Furniture Leasing Corporation Photo: Henrik Trygg/imagebank.sweden.se



Latest news from The Local in France

More news from France at thelocal.fr

Latest news from The Local in Norway

More news from Norway at thelocal.no

Latest news from The Local in Sweden

More news from Sweden at thelocal.se

Latest news from The Local in Switzerland

More news from Switzerland at thelocal.ch

See all ads | Join the Marketplace

Jobs in Germany, in English

886 jobs available
663 new jobs this week
22 new jobs today

ALL JOBS »

Blog
Essentials

Dating
Looking for your own blonde bombshell? Or is the strong, silent type more your style? Find a German sweetheart here.

Weather
"After clouds comes clear weather," say the Germans. But what about after that? Find out in The Local's weather section.

Blog
German stuff that's distracting us today.

Noticeboard
Whether you want to buy, sell, hire, announce or promote something, here's the place to do it - completely free of charge.

Discuss
Debate the news, ask for advice, make friends - or just let off steam.

Search News


Register

Register now for:
> Free use of noticeboard
> Special discounts
> Weekly news roundup
> Unlimited use of discuss

REGISTER FOR FREE »

News from the Goethe-Institut
News from Young Germany
  • So You Want to Be an Artist
    The tradition of hands-on training in the arts is alive and well in Germany. Interested in studying visual, performance, or sound arts? Keen to pursue graphic and product design, textiles, or typography? Germany is home to many exceptional art schools as well as a rich history of excellence in and support for the arts.
  • Frankfurt's Skyscrapers: A Guide
    Frankfurt is known for banks and skyscrapers. So what is behind the colossal glass, steel, and stone facades of the city’s buildings? Meet Frankfurt’s tallest.
  • Conference - Pioneers on Dual Training Abroad
    Germany‘s system of dual training is one of the foundations of its economic strength.
  • The all-German final in Wembley
    Bayern München and Borussia Dortmund are playing in the final of the Champions League at London’s Wembley Stadium.
  • German first feature film in Cannes
    A directorial debut from Germany makes it to the competition “Un Certain Regard” at the famous film festival on the Côte d’Azur.
News from DeutschlandOnline

Toytown Germany
Germany's English-speaking crowd
Trade CFDs with InterTrader.com
Start trading shares, equities, forex, etc. No commission on equities; Low min. margins. Apply for a CFDs account now!
Little house in Spain
'Charming, old, beamed cottage for holiday let in Jesus Pobre, Alicante, Spain
www.littlehouseinspain.com/
Albatross Insurance
Professional and qualified consultancy on all insurance and finance matters in Germany, Telephone: +49 2163 571 1740, Email: bg@albatross-assurance.com
www.albatross-assurance.com
Hotel reservations in Berlin
Visiting Berlin anytime soon? Book your hotel in Berlin here.
Rental apartments in Berlin
For home-from-home holiday accommodation, search for a Berlin apartment to rent.