Germany’s Alternative for Germany (AfD) is riding a wave of momentum just weeks before February’s federal election, reaching 21.5% in a new Insa poll—its highest voter support in a year. The poll, conducted in early January, underscores the surging popularity of the anti-globalist party amid a heated campaign season.
While the conservative Union bloc (CDU/CSU) holds steady at 31%, the ruling Social Democratic Party (SPD) dips slightly to 15.5%. Meanwhile, the Greens rebound to 13.5%, and the Free Democratic Party (FDP) languishes at 4%, below the Bundestag’s 5% threshold. The Left Party fares no better, polling at 3%.
The holidays also played a role in shaping voter preferences, with 10% of respondents admitting they changed their political stance after discussing issues with family and friends.
Speaking to Bild, Insa’s Hermann Binkert highlighted the Union bloc’s flexibility to form coalitions with either the SPD, Greens, or AfD. However, CDU leader Friedrich Merz has adamantly ruled out cooperation with the AfD. Alice Weidel, the AfD’s co-chair, challenged this position, citing Austria’s FPÖ as an example of right-wing success. “The firewall against the AfD will not last,” she asserted.
The poll arrives amid heightened debates on security and immigration following December’s terror attack at the Magdeburg Christmas market, where a Saudi national drove into a crowd, killing six and injuring nearly 300. The incident has intensified calls for stricter border controls and immigration policies, themes central to the AfD’s campaign.
Interior Minister Nancy Faeser recently announced plans to revoke protection for Syrian refugees who fail to integrate, a move echoing CDU candidate Merz’s assertion that Germany “cannot accept more Syrians.” Meanwhile, CDU members advocate for deportation after two criminal convictions, a measure the AfD criticizes as insufficient.
Adding to the campaign’s intensity, tech billionaire Elon Musk openly endorsed the AfD, declaring on social media platform X, “Only the AfD can save Germany.” Musk also plans to feature Weidel in an interview on January 9, potentially amplifying the party’s visibility at a critical moment.
Legacy parties have notably shifted rightward on immigration, reflecting growing public concern. Faeser suggested asylum seekers without jobs or training might face deportation, while the AfD pushes for even tougher restrictions on foreign nationals involved in crime.
With polling trends favoring the AfD and tensions running high, Germany’s upcoming election is shaping up to be a pivotal moment in its political landscape.
