Martin Schulz, the German Social Democrats' candidate for federal elections in September, would beat Chancellor Angela Merkel if balloting was based on a direct leadership vote, a poll showed on Friday. That marks a turnaround compared with the end of January, when the same poll showed Merkel had 44 percent support compared to Schulz's 40 percent, ZDF said. Earlier this month another poll also showed Schulz had overtaken Merkel. By party, the poll showed the SPD up 6 percentage points at 30 percent - its highest level of the current parliament in that survey. Merkel's conservatives -- comprising her Christian Democrats (CDU) and their Bavarian sister party, the Christian Social Union (CSU) -- shed 2 points to 34 percent.

Source: Egypt Independent February 17, 2017 10:18 UTC