Almost half of Germans want Merkel to quit now: survey

Poll comes shortly before chancellor tries again to form coalition.

Nearly 50 percent of Germans want Angela Merkel to resign as chancellor immediately, according to a poll | Sean Gallup/Getty Images

Nearly 50 percent of Germans want Angela Merkel to resign as chancellor immediately, according to a poll published on Saturday.

The poll, commissioned by Die Welt, found that 46 percent of respondents want Merkel to step down as she prepares to start talks on forming a new government early next month.

A further 17 percent believe Merkel should quit if talks over a coalition agreement between her Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and Christian Social Union (CSU) bloc and the center-left Social Democrats break down.

A survey published by Bild earlier this week showed that 47 percent of those asked would like Merkel to leave office before completing a fourth term in 2021.

The results of the Die Welt poll — taken from 5,120 respondents surveyed between December 28 and 30 — also show that supporters of the far-right Alternative for Germany party are keenest to see Merkel go, with some 87 percent of them saying she should step down immediately.

Talks exploring a possible deal between the SPD and CDU/CSU will start on January 7. Previous three-way talks between the CDU/CSU, Greens and liberal Free Democratic Party broke down in November.

Tags: