Almost a third of Germans back AfD as far right hits new highs

Key Points:

• One year after Friedrich Merz became Germany’s chancellor leading a coalition of the center-right CDU/CSU and center-left SPD, the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) has surged to record levels of support, now polling around 28%, matching Merz’s bloc from last year’s election.
• Merz had promised to govern without cooperating with the far right, aiming to weaken AfD, but public infighting within his coalition and a sluggish economy have instead fueled AfD’s rise, especially in eastern Germany where it aims to win two regional elections in September.
• AfD’s platform includes opposition to immigration, sympathy for Russia, and support for Donald Trump, with members linked to antisemitic and anti-Israel remarks, and political analysts say the party is now firmly established beyond a protest vote.
• The core voter bases of Merz’s CDU/CSU alliance and the SPD are shrinking, with polls showing conservatives below 25% and Social Democrats under 15%, while AfD officials argue Merz’s coalition with the SPD is politically self-destructive and alienates conservative voters.
• Analysts note that Merz’s strategy of tightening immigration policy and advancing liberal economic reforms has failed to regain voters, as the government’s internal disputes and inability to address economic challenges have undermined public confidence and strengthened right-wing populists.