Five weeks before Germany's parliamentary elections, the Iron Lady of Germany and Europe, Angela Merkel, has been jolted with an opinion poll showing a 10 percentage point slide in her personal popularity – from 69 per cent approval rating in July down to 59 per cent in the second week of August.
Despite the drop, Ms Merkel remains comfortably ahead of her main challenger, Martin Schulz, the leader of the Social Democratic Party who has on 33 per cent, leaving the Queen of Politics as the firm favourite to win the 24th September vote and secure a fourth conservative term in office.
On her return from a three-week holiday, the hard-working Angela Merkel stepped up her campaign with an address in Dortmund to CDU supporters, followed by television appearances, which will be aired this week, and a handful of other planned rallies throughout the country.
In the not so distant past, Ms Merkel has won praise for her skill in playing down issues to disarm the Opposition. It is clear though that the election is not in the CDU bag yet. The sudden drop in her support could be due to general resentment that the coming election is offering no real choice. Voters seemed to have lost interest in politics altogether. After 12 years of Merkel, people in Germany are resenting the fact that they are being offered another four years of Merkel. The signs of complacency in Merkel's CDU are already there, but there are also many voices warning against it.....
From our side, we wish Angela Merkel and her CDU party every success in the 24th September vote. She truly deserves another term in office to continue leading Germany and Europe with skill in the tough times ahead.
Jos Edmond Zarb
Birkirkara