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Germans do not know their Chancellor
He is leader of Europe's richest and most populous nation and he is in his second term, yet give his citizens a photo of him and half cannot say what he does.
While 99% of Germans polled by research institute Forsa may recognise Gerhard Schröder, a mere 51% could actually say that he is their Chancellor.
It may be of some comfort to the Chancellor, who was also not considered trustworthy by most of those that were actually able to recognise him, that his Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer did not fare much better.
Despite being one of Europe's most popular politicians and very popular within Germany itself, only 46% of the 1,630 Germans asked could correctly identify his ministerial post -though again 96% recognised a photo of him and could name him.
However, there is also nothing for the Christian Democrat opposition to gloat about -only 32% could say what CDU chairperson Angela Merkel does.
The survey, picked up by Spiegel Online, was carried out using a new online method by using television remote controls.
Head of Forsa Manfred Güllner hopes that this type of poll leads to more objectivity because those questioned are not influenced by the interviewer.
He is leader of Europe's richest and most populous nation and he is in his second term, yet give his citizens a photo of him and half cannot say what he does.
While 99% of Germans polled by research institute Forsa may recognise Gerhard Schröder, a mere 51% could actually say that he is their Chancellor.
It may be of some comfort to the Chancellor, who was also not considered trustworthy by most of those that were actually able to recognise him, that his Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer did not fare much better.
Despite being one of Europe's most popular politicians and very popular within Germany itself, only 46% of the 1,630 Germans asked could correctly identify his ministerial post -though again 96% recognised a photo of him and could name him.
However, there is also nothing for the Christian Democrat opposition to gloat about -only 32% could say what CDU chairperson Angela Merkel does.
The survey, picked up by Spiegel Online, was carried out using a new online method by using television remote controls.
Head of Forsa Manfred Güllner hopes that this type of poll leads to more objectivity because those questioned are not influenced by the interviewer.
And we thought Americans were ignorant
Researcher (showing picture of Schröder): "Do you know this man?"
German: "Well, he's on the news a lot -- ain't he a weatherman or something?"
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