Merkel's lead COLLAPSES as latest poll puts Schulz LEVEL with beleaguered German leader
ANGELA Merkel’s lead has collapsed as the Martin Schulz led Social Democrats (SPD) are now level, the latest Emnid poll has revealed.
The SDP have drawn level in the latest poll
ANGELA Merkel’s lead has collapsed as the Martin Schulz led Social Democrats (SPD) are now level, the latest Emnid poll has revealed.
The SPD were up one percentage point to 33 per cent as recent social policy promises have gained support.
We haven't had figures like this for the past 20 years
An SDP spokesman, said: “We haven't had figures like this for the past 20 years.”
Angela Merkel’s main political rival, Schulz has vowed to extend benefits for the unemployed if he wins Germany’s general election later this year.
The former European Parliament President, who had seen his support wane in recent weeks has launched a social reform offensive.
The SPD Labour Minister, Andrea Nahles, said the party wanted to spend around £860million extending the duration of unemployment benefits for those who attend vocational training, and would double the value of property unemployed people can own while still qualifying for welfare support, once their unemployment benefit ends.
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The right-wing Alternative for Germany (AfD) was down two points at eight per cent, as the once surging party wrestle with an internal power struggle.
The party was propelled by the influx of refugees into Germany, putting the party's bread-and-butter issue of immigration and integration at the forefront of German politics.
The AfD have been struggling in recent polls
Schulz wants to form a leftist social justice alliance with the Greens, who polled at seven per cent and maybe the radical Left party, who are on eight per cent.
Support for the Greens party and the Left were unchanged at eight and seven per cent, respectively.
The SPD Labour Minister has appealed to voters with a big unemployment promise
One major hurdle facing the SPD is the fact that it introduced many of the labour market rules it now opposes.
A so-called “Agenda 2010” package to deregulate the labour market and reform social security was implemented by former leader Gerhard Schröder in 2003 when many of Germany’s more lavish social benefits were axed
The Emnid poll of 1,882 voters was conducted from March 2 to March 8 for Bild am Sonntag weekly.