Conservatives hit 12-year low in German poll

*E5MA1< 6upport for *erman &hancellor Angela Merkel¶s conservative bloc, trying to move beyond a bitter dispute over migrant policy that threatened the co alition, has fallen to its low est level since , a poll showed yesterday

7he Emnid poll published in Bild am 6onntag showed Merkel¶s &hristian 'emo crats and their sister party, %avaria¶s &hristian 6ocial Union &6U , down one per centage point at percent 7hat compares with per cent in the 6eptember elec tion

7he &6U faces a tough re gional election in October with polls showing it could lose its absolute maMority in %avaria

7he 6ocial 'emocrats 63' , who share power with the conservatives in Merkel¶s co alition, failed to capitalize on those losses, also falling one point to percent

7he far right Alternative for *ermany Af' was un changed at percent while the *reens rose points to percent, their best showing this year, according to Bild am Sonntag

Emnid gave no explanation for the changes

About a month ago, Merkel¶s coalition came close to col lapse due to fundamental dif ferences on migrant policy with her %avarian partners who wanted tighter national border controls, which she reMected A face saving com promise was reached in early -uly but underlying tensions linger

(Reuters)