Majority of Germans want Scholz to form coalition with Greens, FDP

Berlin, Germany | Xinhua |  Unlike before the Bundestag elections, about 59 percent of German citizens were now in favor of a governing coalition of the Social Democratic Party (SPD), the Greens and the liberal party FDP, according to the Politbarometer published by public broadcaster ZDF on Friday.

By contrast, a coalition of the conservative union CDU/CSU, the Greens and FDP was only supported by 24 percent, according to the survey among just over 1,200 people. A continuation of the current grand coalition between SPD and CDU/CSU was the least favored option with 22 percent.

A large majority of 76 percent supported Olaf Scholz (SPD) as the next German chancellor. Armin Laschet (CDU), who never had great popularity ratings to begin with, plummeted to 13 percent, according to the survey. Even among CDU/CSU voters, 49 percent favored Scholz and only 39 percent Laschet.

The SPD won Sunday’s elections with 25.7 percent of votes, while its current senior partner CDU/CSU took 24.1 percent, preliminary results showed. Following the elections, the parties are now having meetings to discuss the establishment of a new government.

Angela Merkel, who has been German chancellor for nearly 16 years, announced in 2018 that she would not seek a fifth term, ending her political career once a successor is officially sworn into office.