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New polling shows 45 per cent of Germans want the chance to vote again after coalition talks between Mrs Merkel’s CDU, its sister party the CSU, the liberal FDP and the Greens collapsed on Sunday night. The survey, by polling agency Forsa, showed 24 per cent support a minority government, likely to consist of the CDU and the Greens. While 27 per cent of voters hope for a “grand coalition” of the CDU and SPD, which is also Mrs Merkel’s preference. 1,786 Germans were polled in the survey by Forsa, for German broadcaster RTL.

Getty Images Angela Merkel faces calls to step down after coalition talks collapsed

However the SPD has ruled this out, meaning new elections are the more likely option. The instability resulting from the collapse of talks has caused the Chancellor’s popularity to take another knock. It was already at a low point after bruising elections saw the CDU lose votes to the anti-immigration Alternative for Germany. But now the loss of confidence in Mrs Merkel has spread to her own party.

In Dusseldorf, the local head of her party’s youth wing, the Junge Union, has now called for Mrs Merkel to step down as CDU chairwoman after the collapse of coalition talks. The local Junge Union board agreed Mrs Merkel should not run as Chancellor in new elections after the party achieved one of the worst results since its formation in 1949. The group also said Mrs Merkel seemed to value her personal power above the policies of the CDU, following chaotic coalition talks at which the Chancellor is accused of being unprepared and failing to lead discussions. Meanwhile Düsseldorf’s FDP MP, Dr Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann, has also hit out at the Chancellor following the talks.

Angela Merkel in pictures Tue, August 8, 2017 Angela Merkel has served as German Chancellor since 2005 and Leader of the Christian Democratic Union since 2000. We take a look at her political career in pictures. Play slideshow AFP/Getty Images 1 of 83 Angela Merkel through the years