Germany’s AfD hits new popularity record – poll

The right-wing party would win if an election were held this Sunday, according to a new survey

The right-wing Alternative for Germany (AfD) party has hit a new popularity record and would win a hypothetical election with 28% of the vote, according to a Bild/INSA poll published on Saturday.

Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s Christian Democratic bloc (CDU/CSU) would receive 24%, falling behind the right-wing party by one percentage point compared with earlier polls, according to the survey. The ruling coalition partner Social Democrats (SPD) maintained a 14% approval rating.

About 11% of the vote would go to parties that would fail to reach the threshold to enter parliament, Bild wrote, adding that this means a governing majority would require at least a 45% share of the remaining vote.

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Provided that other parties do not align with the AfD, Merz’s ruling coalition (CDU, CSU, SPD) would need to ally with another party to reach a working majority in the Bundestag, the news outlet said.

The survey, which was conducted over April 20-24, involved 1,203 respondents who were asked how they would vote if a federal election were held on Sunday.

Approval ratings for Merz’s coalition have steadily declined since it came to power last May. Critics have accused the chancellor of failing to reverse the decline of the German economy, which saw only 0.3% growth in 2025 and endured a recession in 2023 and 2024.

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At least 79% of Germans are dissatisfied with the performance of the ruling government, a YouGov poll published last week indicated. Only 34% of CDU/CSU voters were satisfied with their coalition’s performance as of mid-April, according to the survey.

Last week, Merz was rated Europe’s most unpopular leader, with a 76% disapproval rating, according to the US-based opinion research institute Morning Consult.