Berlin, MAY 4, SPA -- Most Germans are unhappy with the performance ofAngela Merkel's ruling coalition but the chancellor is by far themost popular politician in the country, a survey showed Friday. Support for the grand alliance of Merkel's conservative ChristianDemocrats and the left-of-centre Social Democrats has eroded, despitea booming economy and falling unemployment, according to the poll bythe ARD television channel, REPORTED DPA. Some 72 per cent of the 1,000 people questioned in the survey feltthe 18-month-old coalition was more involved with its own problemsthan with those facing Germany. Two-thirds said they were dissatisfied with the work of thegovernment, but a similar number - 62 per cent - felt the time wasnot yet ripe for a change of administration. The two parties in the coalition have clashed in recent weeks oversuch issues as counter-terrorism, family policy, abolition ofinheritance tax and calls for a minimum wage. Some 71 per cent of those surveyed said the coalition did not payenough attention to the interests of workers, but nevertheless 59 percent were happy with the robust recovery made by Europe's biggesteconomy. Merkel, who has gained from the publicity surrounding Germany'sjoint presidencies of the European Union and Group of Eight wealthynations, saw her approval rating remain steady at 70 per cent. But Social Democrat leader Kurt Beck saw his popularity slump from44 per cent in April to 38 per cent this month. Only 23 per cent saidthey would vote for Beck in a direct election for chancellor - hislowest rating since being elected party chairman a year ago. Beck, who is not a member of the government, has been strugglingto establish a profile in the face of dwindling support for theSocial Democrats among the electorate. The Social Democrats have seen their support plummet to 27 percent in opinion polls compared to 34 per cent for Merkel's party,which has seized the initiative on a range of issues usuallyconsidered Social Democrat territory.--SPA www.spa.gov.sa/446644