Merz and Scholz go head to head in a poll, CDU leads

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, DEC 20 - The contest between CDU leader Friedrich Merz and outgoing Socialist Chancellor Olaf Scholz is intensifying two months before Germany's early elections.
    According to the most recent 'Politbarometer' released by Zdf, in a direct confrontation, Merz receives 44% of the preferences, while Scholz receives 43%. Among political formations, the CDU-CSU alliance continues to lead with 33% of voting intentions, followed by the AfD at 17%. Scholz's SPD is instead given around 15%, while the Greens get 14%. The liberal FDP of former Finance Minister Christian Lindner and the Linke, with only 3% and 4% of voting intentions, risk remaining out of the Bundestag. (ANSA).