Guetersloh, Germany - Twenty-eight per cent of the electorate in Europe believe German Chancellor Angela Merkel should assume a strong leadership role in the European Union, a survey showed Tuesday. 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 per cent of the 13,840 persons questioned felt the EU needs politicians capable of providing greater political leadership, while 32 per cent said they did not believe there was a leadership deficit.
Following Merkel in terms of popularity was European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso on 20 per cent. Newly elected French President Nicolas Sarkozy achieved 15 per cent, followed by British prime minister designate Gordon Brown with 14 per cent.
The German chancellor's popularity was highest in her native country, where she scored 58 per cent. In France 36 per cent of those interviewed hoped she would assume a strong leadership role.
But she scored only 17 per cent in Germany's neighbour Poland and came bottom with 11 per cent 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.
Poland and Britain have raised objections to the revised draft that Merkel will presented 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 the role of an EU foreign minister mentioned in the draft and is also unhappy at accepting the Charter of Fundamental Rights laying down civic entitlements for Europeans.
