Right-wing AfD becomes Germany’s most popular party in new poll

According to a new poll published on Tuesday, the right-wing Alternative for Germany (AfD) has become the most popular party in the country.

According to the poll conducted by the Forsa Institute for Social Research and Statistical Analysis, if a federal election were held now, 26% of Germans would vote for the AfD.

This result places the party ahead of the conservative CDU/CSU bloc, led by Friedrich Merz, which fell to second place with 24% support in the poll.

In a context where Marine Le Pen’s National Rally (RN) is also leading by a clear margin in France, this poll in Germany is likely to increase unease among mainstream European leaders.

Right-wing parties have shown strong electoral performances in recent years, from Poland and Romania to Portugal and the Netherlands.

In the United Kingdom, Nigel Farage’s party, Reform UK, is also topping the polls due to widespread public dissatisfaction with Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s Labour Party government.

However, according to POLITICO‘s aggregate of voter polls, Germany’s conservative Christian Democrats maintain a slight lead over the AfD.

The AfD’s support has continued to climb since the last federal election, with polling figures reaching nearly 21% in February, marking a significant increase. The AfD is currently the largest opposition party in the Federal Parliament.

The AfD was founded over a decade ago as a single-issue party by a group of economics professors who opposed the euro and financial aid to indebted countries during Europe’s debt crisis.

In its early years, it regularly achieved single-digit results in federal and state elections.

Currently led by Alice Weidel, a former Goldman Sachs executive, the AfD maintains a staunchly anti-immigration stance.

Some mainstream politicians argue that the party is “extremist” and should be banned under provisions in the German constitution designed to prevent a recurrence of the country’s Nazi past.

The Forsa poll also indicated that Merz is facing growing trouble on the domestic front, partly due to his focus on foreign policy issues such as the war in Ukraine and Europe’s relations with the US under President Donald Trump.

According to the poll, a majority of Germans are dissatisfied with Merz’s performance, with 67% stating they are “dissatisfied” with him.

The next federal election is scheduled for 2025.