Survey bang for Söder: CSU boss falls far behind in terms of popularity

CSU boss Markus Söder is punished in the popularity ranking of the German top politicians.

The 54-year-old could face a rude awakening after the election.

Munich - While the coalition negotiations between the SPD, the Greens and the FDP are slowly starting, the Union has to prepare for its role in the parliamentary opposition for the first time in 16 years as chancellor.

The power struggle within the sister parties, which reached its climax with the election of Armin Laschet as candidate for chancellor, continues even in the new political situation.

Söder punished in popularity ranking - CSU boss slips three places

Many voices within the Union saw this power struggle between the CDU and CSU, between Armin Laschet and Markus Söder, as the main cause of the historically poor election result of the Union.

While the CDU boss was punished by the election, the CSU boss could now threaten a rude awakening in the aftermath.

This can be seen, among other things, in a new popularity ranking among German top politicians, in which Söder has lost a lot of ground.

In the ranking made by the opinion research institute INSA on behalf of

, the Bavarian Prime Minister slipped three places compared to the last survey and thus also out of the top 5.

Especially in the winter months marked by the corona pandemic, Söder ranked second behind Chancellor Merkel for a long time.

Traffic light effect?

Lindner and Habeck overtake Söder in the popularity ranking

Söder is overtaken by FDP boss Christian Lindner, who is now in third place in the ranking, and the Green Party chairman Robert Habeck, who moves up to fourth place.

Linder and Habeck, both of whom are traded as potential federal ministers in a traffic light coalition, may be able to use the upswing that has arisen from the progress made in forming a government.

The top 5 is completed by the Prime Minister of Baden-Württemberg Winfried Kretschmann (Greens), who can also push past Söder.

Söder tied with Wagenkneckt - Merkel remained unchallenged in first place

The CSU boss shares sixth place in the ranking with the left-wing politician Sahra Wagenknecht.

Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU), who will go into political retirement in a few months, but still enjoys a great reputation among the citizens, remains unchallenged at the top.

In second place is the man who will in all probability move into the Chancellery in Merkel's place: Finance Minister and SPD Chancellor candidate Olaf Scholz.

The SPD, Greens and FDP want to meet for the first time on Thursday afternoon for coalition negotiations for a possible traffic light government.

Scholz had already been optimistic last week that he would be able to form a new federal government before Christmas.