German politics

A new political survey Sunday indicated that Germany's period of a grand coalition government may end after national elections at the end of September.

The latest survey published by the Bild am Sonntag paper showed that 54-percent of voters are expecting their next government to be a coalition government linking the center-right Christian Democratic Union/Christian Social Union (CDU/CSU) of Chancellor Angela Merkel and the liberal Free Democrats (FDP).

Only 23-percent, on the other hand, of those surveyed by the Emnid polling institute expect the current grand coalition of CDU/CSU and the Social Democrats (SPD) to continue after the election.

A small portion, 9 per cent, sees a so-called "traffic light" coalition. The term "traffic light" refers to the combination of the parties' colors of red, yellow and green, or, the SPD, FDP and Greens respectively.

Voters also indicated that 81-percent expect Angela Merkel to continue as chancellor in the next government. When it comes to Frank-Walter Steinmeier being the next chancellor, only 12-percent of voters see that as a likelihood.

The so called grand coalition of the CDU and the CSU parties, who are normally opposed to each other have been united in the coalition since 2005.

av/dpa
Editor: Nick Amies