Berlin, September 04, SPA --Chancellor Angela Merkel maintained a clear lead over her Social Democratic (SPD) challengers in opinion polls published today, seemingly impervious to setbacks in state contests four weeks before Germany's general election, according to dpa. The latest opinion polls, commissioned by German ARD and ZDF statebroadcasters, showed 35-37 per cent supported Merkel's ChristianDemocrats (CDU) and their Bavarian CSU sister party, whilethe SPD languished at 23 per cent. Disappointing CDU results in three of Germany's 16 states lastSunday failed to dent the party's nationwide popularity, which hasremained constant throughout the summer months. The SPD's approval ratings have similarly refused to budge fromthe low 20s, despite repeated attempts by chancellor candidateFrank-Walter Steinmeier to shake up a lacklustre election campaign. However, last Sunday's success story for the Left Party did appearto be echoed in the nationwide surveys. Both ARD and ZDF recordeda 1-per-cent increase for the party, to 11 and 10 per centrespectively. The Left Party, rooted in former East Germany's communist stateparty, shot from obscurity to 21.3 per cent in Saarland, anunprecedented result to the west of Germany's former divide. The party's rise, under the stewardship of former SPD frontmanOscar Lafontaine, has intensified debate over whether the SPD shouldconsider joining forces with the Left at national level. Of those questioned on behalf of ARD, 56 per cent said theyopposed a so-called red-red alliance. However, 49 per cent expectedthe SPD to enter a coalition with the Left, if the option presenteditself after the polls on September 27. Greens and Free Democrats (FDP) saw minor changes in theirpopularity ratings. The ARD survey gave the Greens a static 13 per cent, compared to11 per cent (minus 1 per cent) in the ZDF results. The liberalFDP scored 14 per cent (minus 1 per cent) and 15 per cent (plus 1 percent) respectively.--SPA www.spa.gov.sa/697886