AfD hits record 30% in German poll, CDU/CSU falls to 18%

The right-wing party Alternative for Germany (AfD) has polled 30% support for the first time in its history, while the ruling Christian Democratic bloc CDU/CSU of Chancellor Friedrich Merz has slumped to a historic low of 18%. These are the findings of a poll by the Insa institute, commissioned by the German newspaper Bild.

The coalition Social Democrats (SPD) of Vice-Chancellor Lars Klingbeil and the opposition Greens each scored 14%, trailing well behind the AfD. According to Bild, “these figures will shake the CDU/CSU,” and the paper described the poll itself as “a slap in the face for the governing parties.” Germans, the paper writes, are more dissatisfied with Merz’s government than ever before, and only one in six residents now back the chancellor himself.

AfD's victories in state elections

Germany’s domestic intelligence agency (BfV) classifies AfD as a “confirmed right-wing extremist” organisation in some federal states. A month ago the party scored a decisive win in the state election in Saxony-Anhalt and is now seeking the post of state premier, though without an absolute majority it will struggle to form a government.

AfD also won in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, but there it will almost certainly end up in opposition, since three left-leaning parties could join forces against it. The party also strengthened its position in Berlin, though it fell short of victory there, and a place in opposition is all but guaranteed.

Why AfD's popularity is growing

AfD was founded in 2013 as a Eurosceptic party opposed to unconditional bailouts of the single European currency during the debt crisis. Today the party’s popularity rests chiefly on hostility to migration, especially illegal migration.

AfD takes a critical view of military aid to Ukraine, which has been under Russian aggression since 2022, even though the party itself calls the invasion “unlawful under international law.” At the same time, AfD opposes Ukraine’s accession to the EU and NATO and demands the lifting of anti-Russian sanctions.

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Around Prague, based on reporting by novinky.cz