Germany's Social Democrats have received yet another blow in their bid to challenge Chancellor Angela Merkel in the upcoming elections. Polls show support for the SPD at a record low. It is only six weeks until Germans head to the polls in a general election and prospects are as grim as they could be for Frank-Walter Steinmeier. He's the country's foreign minister and vice chancellor but most all he is the Social Democratic Party's (SPD) candidate to become the country's next chancellor. If Germans voters were to cast their ballots today, the SPD would get a mere 22 percent - one percentage point less than in the previous week.
It is only six weeks until Germans head to the polls in a general election and prospects are as grim as they could be for Frank-Walter Steinmeier. He's the country's foreign minister and vice chancellor but most all he is the Social Democratic Party's (SPD) candidate to become the country's next chancellor.
If Germans voters were to cast their ballots today, the SPD would get a mere 22 percent - one percentage point less than in the previous week.
Germany's conservative Christian Democratic Union and the center-left Social Democratic Party have unveiled their first ads for September's election. But are they any good? In an interview, media expert Michael Spreng analyzes the campaigns for SPIEGEL ONLINE. SPIEGEL ONLINE: Current German Chancellor Angela Merkel recently met with former Chancellor Helmut Kohl. Was it a clever campaign move? Michael Spreng: It appears she thinks it's necessary. With the meeting, she was trying to send a message to the party base: I support the traditional Christian Democratic Union as well as the party's great politicians. Merkel's biggest problem in recent months was -- and she has actually had some success in this regard -- to lure voters away from the Social Democratic Party. But in doing so, she has overlooked part of her party base. By having her photo taken with Kohl, she is trying to make up for some of this neglect.
Germany's conservative Christian Democratic Union and the center-left Social Democratic Party have unveiled their first ads for September's election. But are they any good? In an interview, media expert Michael Spreng analyzes the campaigns for SPIEGEL ONLINE.
SPIEGEL ONLINE: Current German Chancellor Angela Merkel recently met with former Chancellor Helmut Kohl. Was it a clever campaign move?
Michael Spreng: It appears she thinks it's necessary. With the meeting, she was trying to send a message to the party base: I support the traditional Christian Democratic Union as well as the party's great politicians. Merkel's biggest problem in recent months was -- and she has actually had some success in this regard -- to lure voters away from the Social Democratic Party. But in doing so, she has overlooked part of her party base. By having her photo taken with Kohl, she is trying to make up for some of this neglect.
