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News > World

Half of Germans Against Merkel Serving Fourth Term: Poll

  • German Chancellor Angela Merkel talks during ARD summer-interview infront of the Reichstag in Berlin, Germany August 28, 2016.

    German Chancellor Angela Merkel talks during ARD summer-interview infront of the Reichstag in Berlin, Germany August 28, 2016. | Photo: Reuters

Published 28 August 2016
Opinion

Support for Merkel has weakened after a string of terrorist attacks on civilians in July, three of which were carried out by asylum seekers. 

German Chancellor Angela Merkel's domestic popularity has declined, a poll showed on Sunday, with 50 percent of Germans against her serving a fourth term in office after a federal election next year.

RELATED: Germany Wants Refugees to Integrate or Lose Residency Rights

Support for Merkel has weakened after a string of violent attacks on civilians in July, three of which were carried out by asylum seekers. Of those, two were claimed by Islamic State group.

This has sparked opposition to Merkel's open-door migrant policy, which allowed hundreds of thousands from the Middle East, Africa and elsewhere into Germany last year.

Half of the 501 people questioned in the Emnid poll for the Bild am Sonntag newspaper were against Merkel staying in office beyond the 2017 election, with 42 percent wanting her to remain. In November, the last time Bild am Sonntag commissioned a survey on the issue, 45 percent had been in favor of Merkel serving a fourth term, with 48 percent against.

The head of Germany's Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF), Frank-Juergen Weise, told the newspaper that he expects a maximum of 300,000 refugees to arrive in Germany this year.

RELATED: Germany's Merkel Vows to Continue Accepting War Refugees

When asked about her plans for the 2017 election in an interview with public broadcaster ARD on Sunday, Merkel said she would comment on this "in due course", but did not elaborate.

Germany's political parties are gearing up for next year's election. Asked in the ARD interview when Germans would get tax relief given that Germany has a budget surplus, Merkel said that would come "in the next legislative period.

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