ARD-DeutschlandTREND

Should the operational lifespan of nuclear power plants be extended by 15 to 20 years?
be extended by 15 to 20 years?
And if the profits were used to invest in renewable energy technology?

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Satisfaction with...Guttenberg, Steinmeier, Leyen

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Satisfaction with…Brüderle, Westerwelle

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Vote intention Germany, September 2010

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The overall positive economic data are reflected in the improved prevailing mood regarding the economy. Currently, 44 percent of the Germans assess the economic situation as either ‘very good’ or ‘good’. In view of these data, the labour unions’ claim to give the employees a fair share by considerably increasing their wages in times of economic recovery is widely approved.

The government, however, benefits only marginally from the improved economic situation. Though satisfaction with the Cabinet slightly increased still 80 percent of the citizens are dissatisfied with the coalition of Conservatives and Liberals. Defence minister zu Guttenberg, minister of Labour von der Leyen, finance minister Schäuble and environment minister Röttgen are the supporting pillars of the Cabinet. They are the only cabinet members who show a positive performance record. The approval rate of Chancellor Merkel increased considerably in comparison to the previous month, but is still lagging far behind her former high rates. Vice Chancellor Guido Westerwelle has to put up with his lowest approval rate ever in the ARD-DeutschlandTREND. The opposition’s most popular politician is the chairman of the Parliamentary group of the Social Democrats, Frank-Walter Steinmeier. He ranks second place behind zu Guttenberg but in front of von der Leyen and Schäuble.

The majority of the German citizens is opposed to an extended operational lifespan of nuclear power plants beyond the year 2020. But if the energy companies’ larger profits resulting from such an extended operational lifespan were invested into renewable energy technology, three out of four Germans (73 percent) would accept such a lifespan extension.

There are only slight changes in the current political mood. In comparison to August, the Conservatives would gain one percentage point and reach 32 percent. The Social Democrats would loose one percentage point and achieve 30 percent. The standing of the other parties remains stable: The Greens would gain 17 percent, the Left Party 10 percent and the Liberals 5 percent. All other parties combined would reach 6 percent.

Furthermore, the neck-and-neck race between the two catch-all parties regarding party preferences is mirrored in the candidate preferences. While the German citizens clearly favoured the Conservative incumbent to the Social Democratic challenger in 2009, the two are currently as close as never before: If the German chancellor could be directly elected, 41 percent of the vote would currently go to Angela Merkel and 38 percent to Frank-Walter Steinmeier.