The high appreciation of the activities of Chancellor Angela Merkel by voters allowed her party to set a popularity record - if the elections were held now, the CDU/CSU bloc of parties would form a government independently

German Chancellor and leader of the CDU speaks at celebrations marking the party's 70th anniversary (Photo: REUTERS 2015)

If elections were held in Germany now, the bloc of conservative parties CDU/CSU would receive an absolute majority of seats in the German Bundestag and would be able to form the country’s government independently, without resorting to a coalition with other parties, reports Deutshe Welle .

According to a sociological survey, the Christian Democratic Union, chaired by Angela Merkel, and the Bavarian Christian Social Union are supported by 43% of voters.

The publication refers to experts from the Emnid Institute of Sociological Research, who believe that such a high rating of the CDU/CSU is explained primarily by the high level of support for German Chancellor Angela Merkel. There has not been such a situation with voter preference in Germany since 2005.

Angela Merkel came out on top in the popularity rating of German politicians in the summer of 2014. According to a survey conducted by the ARD television channel at the time, more than 70% of Germans were satisfied or very satisfied with Merkel’s activities. The former leader of the rating, German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier, scored 69% among the German population and as a result dropped to second place. Third place was taken by then Finance Minister Wolfgang Schäuble, whose work was approved by 64% of respondents.

Merkel headed the Christian Democratic Union in April 2000, and since November 21, 2005, she has been Chancellor of Germany, becoming the first woman to hold this post in the entire history of the country. She has repeatedly topped the list of the most powerful women in the world according to Forbes magazine.

On Saturday, August 1, the magazine Der Spiegel, citing its sources, reported that Merkel is going to take part in new elections and, thus, compete for the post of chancellor for the fourth time. According to the publication, the issue of the future election campaign was discussed at meetings between Merkel and the Secretary General of the Christian Democratic Union, Peter Tauber, and the party’s managing director, Klaus Schüler. Presumably, her candidacy will be announced in early 2016.

Merkel's activities allowed her party to set a popularity record