Social Democrat voter preference slipping

Voter preference for the opposition Social Democratic Party has waned in the wake of the David Rath scandal, according to a poll conducted by the STEM agency. The survey suggests that the party, in which Dr Rath was the shadow health minister, lost nearly three points to 23% over the last month. Meanwhile, right-wing party preference has increased slightly. Four parties would cross the 5-percent parliamentary threshold, STEM SAYS: the Social Democrats, followed by the senior government Civic Democrats, the Communists and TOP 09. Election turnout would be 53%; one-fifth of respondents said they would definitely not go to elections and 27% were undecided.