40 percent of Germans demand Merkel's resignation over refugee policy, poll says

[smirkymonkey]

Source: Deutsche Welle News

"While 39.9 percent of Germans surveyed by the pollster Insa for "Focus" magazine said Chancellor Angela Merkel's refugee policy is grounds for her to step down, 45.2 percent of the more than 2,000 people polled said they did not believe she should leave office. The remaining 15 percent did not state an opinion.

Merkel has long enjoyed high popularity ratings among Germans but that support has dwindled in recent months, particularly as the numbers of asylum seekers entering Germany from the Middle East and North Africa has increased.
.
Among Germany's Left party, 45.4 percent of the survey's participants demanded Merkel's resignation, 44 percent of Free Democratic Party (FDP) supporters and 41.3 percent of Social Democrats (SPD).

The results of the poll, which was conducted between January 22 and 25, came just hours after Germany's ruling coalition struck a compromise on changes to asylum laws."





Read more: http://www.dw.com/en/40-percent-of-germans-demand-merkels-resignation-over-refugee-policy-poll-says/a-19011014

[mpcamb]

1. The first sentence of the article says 'want' her to resign. Not sure where 'Demand' comes from.

2000 person poll.
Unflattering picture of her.
Having seen a lot of off-base, skewed and goal-oriented polling from US sources recently, this invites some skepticism about the numbers.

[smirkymonkey]

5. I'm thinking that number is a little low.

From what I've been reading, it appears that a majority of Germans are furious with her.

[mpcamb]

6. The thing that goes against that is the timing of the poll.

The article says, "The news came just after the ruling grand coalition unveiled its new asylum package." and
"The results of the poll, which was conducted between January 22 and 25, came just hours after Germany's ruling coalition struck a compromise on changes to asylum laws."
So the polling of 2000 people and compiling of the information happened proir to the new asylum package was worked out. Some percentage of that opposion are going to be satified or at least mollified by the new changes.

[pampango]

2. "45.2 percent ... said they did not believe she should leave office."

Members of Germany's right-leaning Alternative for Germany Party (AfD) were particularly critical of Merkel, with two in three AfD members demanding the chancellor resign.

If 2/3 of the far-right want her to resign, she must have considerable support on the left or center to come out with a plurality (45%-40%) favoring that she stay.

[smirkymonkey]

3. I have a feeling that 40% that wants her to resign is going to continue to rise.

as time goes on.

[pampango]

4. You are probably right.

And we can see which end of the political spectrum will lead the charge. That may happen all over Europe.