BERLIN, Dec. 28 (UPI) -- A series of polls in Germany paint a gloomy picture about German politics and the country's stance on European Union enlargement.
A staggering 82 percent of Germans feel that politicians "do not act in the interests of the people," according a new poll by the German census organization Forsa.
Only 5 percent of Germans said they believe that elections can "strongly influence" politics. Nearly half of all Germans are convinced that the decision for a party or a candidate has "absolutely no influence" on politics. In economically troubled eastern Germany, disenchantment with politics is greater than in the western parts of the country.
Forsa polled 1,001 Germans and gave a margin of error of +/- 3 points.
According to an Infratest dimap poll, 53 percent of Germans are also against the accession of European Union candidates Bulgaria and Romania, which become full members on Jan. 1, 2007. Germany on the same day takes over the EU presidency and is expected to influence European politics.
Germany's conservatives (including Chancellor Angela Merkel) are against full membership for Turkey, which currently is in accession negotiations. The German government officially endorses the negotiations.
