Survey Good Mood in German Parliament for UN Reform Proposals



May 5, 2005 -- The results of a survey released today conducted by the Committee for a Democratic UN (KDUN) in the spring of 2005, indicate that German parliamentarians have a generally positive attitude regarding the proposals to establish a Parliamentary Assembly and a Rapid Reaction Force at the United Nations. Although the survey is not fully representative with only 10 percent participation, the result could be regarded as a mood indicator, says the Committee. "The survey shows that Germany could accomplish more in the UN reform debate than simply calling for a permanent seat on the UN Security Council", says Committee chairperson Andreas Bummel.

According to the survey, clear, multi-partisan support exists among the parliamentarians for the establishment of a UN Rapid Reaction Force. The widest support comes from the Green parliamentarians with 71.4 to 14.3 percent, followed by 62.5 to 37.5 percent among the liberal FDP, 61.5 to 23.1 percent among the social democratic SPD and 52.9 to 29.4 percent among the conservative CDU/CSU. Between 14 and 18 percent of the parliamentarians said that they need more information to answer the question.

A majority of parliamentarians in all groups also viewed steps to establish a Parliamentary Assembly at the United Nations as useful. The widest support was recorded among the parliamentarians of the Green party with 85.7 to 14.3 percent and of the SPD with 57.1 to 17.9 percent. Only narrow majorities exist among the CDU/CSU with 43.8 to 37.5 percent and the FDP with 37.5 to 25 percent. 18.8 percent of the conservative parliamentarians, 37.5 of the liberals, and 17.9 percent of the SPD specifically, declared that they need more information. The Green party parliamentarians felt they were best informed. None of them answered that they would need more information to answer the question.

The parliamentarians were also asked to estimate how much time international questions occupy their practical work at the Bundestag. With an average of 27.8 percent, the parliamentarians of CDU/CSU are at the top, followed by the SPD with 27.2 percent, the FDP with 22.5 percent and the Greens with 19.2 percent. The total average comes to 23.9 percent.





Survey Good Mood in German Parliament for UN Reform Proposals