Is Merkel invincible? One SPD leader thinks so

Albig is not a very popular name in the top ranks of the Social Democratic Party (SPD) right now, after the Schleswig-Holstein state premier went on the air Friday saying there was no real point in running anyone against current Chancellor Angela Merkel at the next election because it would be "stupid to think that we could win."

"Not very smart," and "lacking honor for the party," were among the reactions from his own party. He even got burned by other opposition parties, with a Left representative accusing Albig of "sucking up" to the chancellor and damaging German democracy in the process.

A politician tells the truth?

Asked about the chances SPD head Sigmar Gabriel would have against Merkel, Albig told public broadcaster NDR on Friday, "I'm sure he would do an excellent job, but I think it would be difficult to win against the current chancellor."

In response to the follow-up question as to the SPD's goals in the 2017 election, Albig said: "I think it would be good if we were just part of the government. For us to go in there in thinking we could win is just stupid. Nobody would take us seriously."

Saving grace

Before the end of the interview, however, Albig pulled out one SPD-praising card.

"2017 is a long way off. But let me just say that if the vote were tomorrow, it would be better if the SPD were part of the elected government than for Merkel's CDU to run by itself."

Albig was probably very aware of the latest domestic political survey - released just after the interview on Friday - that suggests less than 25 percent of Germans would vote for the SPD. Over 40 percent told public broadcaster ZDF they would keep their trust in Merkel, keeping with the dominance the CDU had in the last federal election in 2013.

If you were wondering, Albig didn't say in the interview who he would vote for.