Ineffective Government?

Only 22 percent of Germans were of the opinion that their government was run in an effective and goal-oriented manner, according to a survey conducted by Infratest dimap for German public broadcaster ARD.

Another 79 percent of those polled said the grand coalition of Christian and Social Democrats spent more time dealing with political questions inside of their own parties instead of facing the nation's business.

Claims coming out of the administration that only a grand coalition would be able to make the reform compromises needed to keep Germany headed in the right economic direction, the study showed that 64 percent of people did not feel the current government was in a position to reform the labor market or health care system.

Discontent may not lead to change

But polls showed that Germans' unhappiness with the Merkel government may not be enough to change the country's elected leaders.

If new elections were held this weekend, the country would likely end up with a similar grand coalition, with 34 percent voting for Merkel's CDU/CSU, 31 percent for the Social Democratic Party, 12 percent for the Greens, 11 percent for the free-market liberal Free Democrats and 8 percent for the Left Party.

However a second survey, also released Friday, said the conservative Christian parties have a slightly better chance at kicking out the SPD in favor of the FDP, which is generally seen as better coalition fit for the conservative parties.

The poll, conducted by the Mannheim Research Group for Germany's other national public broadcaster ZDF, said the 37 percent of voters preferred the CDU and 9 percent would vote for the FDP while the SPD and Greens would receive 31 percent and 10 percent, respectively, if elections were held this weekend.

Germans' view of the EU presidency

The Mannheim survey presented a picture of a divided country on international issues, as well.

While 74 percent of wanted there to be more political cooperation across Europe and 75 percent said they wanted additional economic cooperation across the 25-member European Union.

Opinions as to whether the EU presidency, which Berlin takes over Jan. 1, would be advantageous for Germany were split. Some 46 percent said the advantages and disadvantages of setting the European agenda would be equal, while 24 percent leading the EU would be advantageous and 26 percent said it is not in Germany's favor.

Agreement on personal issues

Support for a smoking ban was one point of agreement among Germans with 80 percent of those surveyed saying there should be a single, federal ban on smoking instead of varying state regulations.

When it comes to their national outlook, confidence in a better economic year hit a 10-year high in Germany. About 53 percent said they expect the economy to improve, a jump of 21 percent from last year.

On a personal level, Germans are also looking forward to 2007 in similar numbers to last year, according to the Mannheim survey. The majority, 54 percent, said they don't expect much of a change in the new year while 29 percent said 2007 would be an improvement and 16 percent are expecting their lives to go downhill beginning in January.