Party Popularity

A survey by ARD-Deutschlandtrend found that a majority of Germans were already dissatisfied with the government which was sworn into power at the end of October.

Of those people asked, 60 percent were not happy with the work being done in Berlin, while only 33 percent said that they were "satisfied" or "very satisfied" with the governing coalition of conservatives and free-market liberals.

However, Chancellor Angela Merkel fared better, getting a 70 percent satisfaction rating with the public - up three percent from a September poll.

In spite of controversy over German troops in Afghanistan, Defense Minister Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg emerged as a popular figure, with a favorable rating up six points to 69 percent.

Party power shifts

A total of 47 percent of those asked said they would vote for the Union bloc of Christian Democrats (CDU)/Christian Social Union (CSU) and the Free Democrats (FDP).

That includes an unchanged percentage of 35 percent for the CDU and CSU compared with last month's Deutschlandtrend survey, but a fall of two percentage points for the FDP.

Meanwhile, the Social Democrats (SPD), the Left party and the Greens together achieved 48 percent, with the struggling SPD up two points.

Left-wing voters are particularly dissatisfied, with 89 percent voicing their discontent. However, 44 percent of liberal FDP supporters said they were also unhappy with the current government.

Most want troops out

Only 27 percent of those asked thought that German troops should stay in Afghanistan, one day after Berlin decided to its extend military deployment in the war-torn country.

Many Germans are also unhappy with the role of the coalition when it comes to climate change. According to 58 percent of those asked, the government should do more to combate global warming, while 38 percent thought Berlin was doing enough.

For 10 percent, the government was exaggerating the problem.

rc/AFP/dpa

Editor: Kyle James