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Germans getting less

pessimistic on economy

MAINZ: Germans are becoming less pessimistic about the state of the economy and would be prepared to accept cuts in the social safety net, according to a poll by German television broadcaster ZDF released on Friday.

"The economic outlook reached an absolute low point last month, but for April all indicators are looking up for the first time," the Politbarometer poll for ZDF found.

Unemployment remained the most important problem for 79 percent of respondents questioned this week, but that number was down from 86 percent in March, it said.

Only 45 percent of businesses now believed the German economy was heading downward, against 58 percent.

And while 21 percent of people see the overall economy getting better, up from 16 percent when the question was last put in February, 38 percent see it getting worse, down from 45 percent.

Most agree that government spending must be cut back to get Germany's public finances in order. Sixty-three percent said civil servant salaries should not be raised, while only 33 percent said they should.

Even among civil servants, 48 percent said their salaries should not be raised, while only 51 percent said they should.

A majority of 54 percent thought sick pay should not be reduced, as the government is considering, but 45 percent said cuts were needed.

The improved view of the economy bolstered support for Chancellor Helmut Kohl's centre-right coalition.

If elections were held this Sunday, 43 percent said they would vote for the Christian Democrats or their CSU allies and six percent for their junior partners the Free Democrats.

That gives the coalition 49 percent of the vote, up from 48 percent in March and enough to ensure it a majority in parliament under Germany's complex electoral law.

Only 32 percent said they would vote for the opposition Social Democrats, 12 percent for the Greens, four percent for the PDS and three percent for other parties.Reuter