Merz Coalition at Record Low as AfD Surges

Support for Chancellor Friedrich Merz's governing coalition has weakened further, according to the latest INSA poll for the Bild daily. Both the conservative Christian Democratic Union/Christian Social Union (CDU/CSU) and the Social Democratic Party (SPD) lost one percentage point each compared to the previous survey. The CDU/CSU would currently receive 23% of the vote, its weakest result in more than four years.

The SPD stands at just 13%, level with the opposition Greens. Together, the governing coalition would achieve only 36% support, its worst result since the February 2025 federal election.

By contrast, the opposition Alternative for Germany (AfD) dominated the poll, opening a five-point lead over the CDU/CSU for the first time.

According to Bild, the current government has lost around one in five voters since the election, pointing to a rapid decline in public confidence in the coalition parties.

(mja)