Germany’s right-wing Alternative for Germany (AfD) is now nearly tied with the conservative CDU/CSU bloc in public support, according to a new Deutschlandtrend poll conducted by Infratest dimap for the German broadcaster ARD.
The survey, conducted between March 31 and April 2 among 1,334 eligible voters, shows the CDU/CSU slipping to 26%—its lowest approval rating since October 2022. Meanwhile, AfD has surged to a record high of 24%, bringing the two parties within the poll’s margin of error of two percentage points.
The center-left Social Democratic Party (SPD) remains at 16%, marking its worst performance in a general election. The Greens, previously part of Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s coalition, now stand at 11%, while the socialist Left Party holds 10%.
Two parties that previously failed to re-enter parliament, the left-wing populist Alliance Sahra Wagenknecht (BSW) and the neoliberal Free Democrats (FDP), each have just 4% support—falling short of the threshold for Bundestag representation.
Support for CDU/CSU leader Friedrich Merz, who is positioning himself as a future chancellor candidate, has also taken a hit. According to the poll, “70% of respondents said they were dissatisfied with his performance.”
