Martin Schulz bubble burst as Angela Merkel tops opinion poll
GETTY Chancellor Angela Merkel is back on top in an important opinion poll
She and her Christian Democratic Union (CDU) conservatives seem to have successfully burst the bubble of centre-left challenger Martin Schulz, the SPD candidate who had pulled even with her in January and opened up a 16 point lead in February. But Mrs Merkel has come out on top again in the DeutschlandTrend survey for the ARD broadcasting network, giving her 46 per cent support - ten clear percentage points ahead of former European Parliament president Herr Schulz.
A total of 1,200 voters surveyed showed 62 per cent said they were "overall satisfied" with Mrs Merkel, despite the refugee crisis and the almost daily raids that take place in German towns and cities looking for potential terrorists among them. The country's least satisfying politician turned out to be Frauke Petry, the leader of the anti-immigrant, anti-Islam Alternative for Germany party (AfD), who received just 9 per cent support - down a point from March.
GETTY Merkel burst the bubble of centre-left challenger Martin Schulz
Angela Merkel's ever changing face Mon, March 20, 2017 German Chancellor, Angela Merkel and her ever changing face Play slideshow 1 of 15
GETTY Mrs Merkel has come out on top again in the DeutschlandTrend survey