German Federal Elections 2009 attract global journalists

More than 45 foreign journalists from Africa, Asia, Latin America, Russia and other parts of Europe have converged in Germany to observe the Federal Elections 2009 described as the most interesting in the country's electoral history. The African journalists are Mr Francis Ameyibor of the Ghana News Agency; Ms Emma Ekua Akyineba Morrison of Ghana�s TV-3 Network; Mr Samson Segun Abrams of the Weekly Fresh Facts, and Ms Juliana Taiwo of This Day, both from Nigeria. The journalists who are participating in the process leading to this Sunday�s historic elections, will also observe the final election activities of the major political parties, voting process, counting and the final declaration of results. According to the officials of the Federal Foreign Office, the visitors programme is to afford the rest of the world an opportunity to share in the German democratic process. It would also help strengthen German relationship with the rest of the world and enhance the credibility of the elections. Meanwhile, the GNA�s observation of the latest and last electoral forecast by the Foreschungsgruppe indicates that the ruling Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and its sister party Christian Social Union (CSU) had 36 per cent; Social Democratic Party (SPD) 25 per cent; the Greens with ten per cent; the Free Democratic Party (FDP) 13 per cent; the Left 11 per cent and other minority parties with five per cent. Polls by Foresa gave the CDU/CSU 37 per cent; SPD 24 per cent; The Greens 11 per cent; FDP 12 per cent; The Left 10 per cent; and others 6 percent. Whiles Allensbach polls indicate that CDU/CSU had 36 per cent; SPD 22.5 per cent; The Greens 12 per cent; FDP 12.5 per cent; The Left 12 per cent and others six per cent. According to German electoral laws, no polls are to be conducted and published within a week to elections. Mr Richard Hilmer, Director of Infratest Dimp, told journalists that all the polls had about 25 per cent undecided voters, which makes the election quite challenging for the both the CDU and SPD. He said now it is very clear no party can win an absolute majority to form the next government, hence the calculation is based on the nature of the coalition. The two major parties need the smaller parties to form a government but as to "what kind of coalition," remains a question the about 16 million electorate will decide on Sunday. Professor Oskar Niedermayer of the Free University of Berlin�s Faculty of Political and Social Sciences said the factors that influence voters� behaviour in Germany include party identification which has reduced in recent times, especially that of the two major parties. The other factors, he said, are the electorate perception about the candidate and the party, candidates� leadership and managerial qualities, and candidates� credibility among others. He said in spite of whatever the outcome of the elections might be, Germany's foreign policy will not change.