Far-right AfD overtakes German conservatives in new poll
442 Mins Read
The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) has edged ahead of the conservative Christian Democratic Union (CDU) for a second time this week.
The survey published by broadcaster ZDF on Friday showed the AfD steady at 26%, while the conservative CDU/CSU bloc of Chancellor Friedrich Merz slipped one point to 25%.
The center-left Social Democrats (SPD), who led the last government, saw their support dip to 12%.
Support for the Greens dipped to 14%, while the Left rose to 11%. The business-focused Free Democrats polled at 3%, with other parties on a combined 9%.
The poll has pointed to growing frustration with the ruling coalition, particularly over its handling of rising fuel prices linked to the Iran war. A large majority said government measures were insufficient, with 81% calling for stronger action and 57% saying the energy transition is moving too slowly.
Overall satisfaction with the coalition of CDU, CSU and SPD has dropped to 27%, down from 34% in March. Approval of Chancellor Friedrich Merz has fallen to 30%.
Ratings for Vice Chancellor Lars Klingbeil and Economy Minister Katherina Reiche have also weakened, with fewer than a third saying they are doing a good job.
In personal ratings, Defense Minister Boris Pistorius remains the most popular, ahead of the Greens’ Cem Özdemir and Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul. Merz has dropped to eighth place with his lowest rating yet.
The survey, conducted by pollsters Forschungsgruppe Wahlen, is not the first institute to put the AfD ahead of the conservative bloc.
Recent polls by YouGov, INSA and Forsa also rank the anti-immigrant, eurosceptic party as the leading force.
The anti-immigrant eurosceptic party was also ranked as the leading force in polls by YouGov, INSA and Forsa, with the widest margin appearing in a YouGov survey that put the AfD at 27% compared with 23% for the CDU/CSU bloc.
