FDP-Wähler über den Kurs ihrer Partei # 06.01.2011 11 Uhr # Journal TT Englisch

German voters are increasingly identifying themselves as "independents" when it comes to casting their ballots - and that's spelling trouble not only for the Free Democrats, but also for the other large, traditional parties - the Social Democrats and the conservative CDU-CSU as well. Polls show that - compared to just five years ago - Germans are less likely to identify themselves with one particular party and are more likely to vote on specific issues or personalities. One reason - as the FDP has found out - is that when they do come to power - parties are expected to quickly translate their ideas into policies. When they don't do so - they can no longer expect automatic support from their base.