Leading Lady

Twenty-eight percent of the electorate in Europe believes German Chancellor Angela Merkel should assume a strong leadership role in the European Union. This puts her a long way ahead of other European politicians, according the survey conducted by Germany's Bertelsmann Foundation in 14 of the EU's 27 members states.

Some 47 percent of the 13,840 persons questioned felt the EU needs politicians capable of providing greater political leadership, while 32 percent said they did not believe there was a leadership deficit.


Following Merkel in terms of popularity was European Commission President Jose Barroso on 20 percent. Newly elected French President Nicolas Sarkozy achieved 15 percent, followed by British prime minister designate Gordon Brown with 14 percent.

Home support

The German chancellor's popularity was highest in her native country, where she scored 58 percent. In France 36 percent of those interviewed hoped she would assume a strong leadership role.

But she scored only 17 percent in Germany's neighbor Poland and came bottom with 11 percent in Britain, according to the survey which was conducted in May and June.

The chancellor faces a major test later this week when she seeks to persuade EU leaders to agree on a new treaty to replace the bloc's draft constitution rejected by French and Dutch voters in 2005.

Facing opponents


Poland and Britain have raised objections to the revised draft that Merkel will present to a summit in Brussels on June 21-22, shortly before Germany's term as rotating EU present expires at the end of the month.

Poland has threatened to block approval because it objects to the draft's weighted voting system which it says gives unfair advantage to large countries like Germany at Warsaw's expense.

Britain is opposed to the role of an EU foreign minister mentioned in the draft and is also unhappy about the Charter of Fundamental Rights laying down civic entitlements for all Europeans.