Breaking
BRVoting for president at the polling stations of E. E. Samuel Benchimol, in the 65th electoral zoneUSYankees vs. Rays ALDS Game 2 Preview: Schlittler vs. Peralta, Betting Odds and Playoff ContextBRAbstention of 21.02% in Bandeira do Sul in the 1st round of municipal electionsCNThe Yemeni government forces recaptured Mucha, Saudi Arabia led the coalition to attack the Houthi armed forces, and the three countries launched a collective defense mechanismARSaudi Arabia faces the UAE in the 27th Gulf final in search of the fourth titleAUMan dies one week after stabbing in North Albury, NSWCNU.S. stocks closed higher overall, Nasdaq rose more than 1% to hit a record highINTLFormer Conservative MP and bestselling author Jeffrey Archer dies aged 86RUUS Navy Sikorsky MH-60R Seahawk helicopter disappears from radar over the Red Sea off Saudi ArabiaAUAustralian Army soldier dies, five injured in training exercise at Mount BundeyBRVoting for president at the polling stations of E. E. Samuel Benchimol, in the 65th electoral zoneUSYankees vs. Rays ALDS Game 2 Preview: Schlittler vs. Peralta, Betting Odds and Playoff ContextBRAbstention of 21.02% in Bandeira do Sul in the 1st round of municipal electionsCNThe Yemeni government forces recaptured Mucha, Saudi Arabia led the coalition to attack the Houthi armed forces, and the three countries launched a collective defense mechanismARSaudi Arabia faces the UAE in the 27th Gulf final in search of the fourth titleAUMan dies one week after stabbing in North Albury, NSWCNU.S. stocks closed higher overall, Nasdaq rose more than 1% to hit a record highINTLFormer Conservative MP and bestselling author Jeffrey Archer dies aged 86RUUS Navy Sikorsky MH-60R Seahawk helicopter disappears from radar over the Red Sea off Saudi ArabiaAUAustralian Army soldier dies, five injured in training exercise at Mount Bundey
BackAfD reaches record level of 30.5 percent, Union falls to 17.5 percent
AfD reaches record level of 30.5 percent, Union falls to 17.5 percent
Developing
Die Welt1 hour agoPolitics1 min readGermanyView original

AfD reaches record level of 30.5 percent, Union falls to 17.5 percent

Quick Look

  • According to a new Insa survey, the AfD leads with 30.5 percent, ahead of the CDU/CSU with 17.5 percent.
  • Satisfaction with the black-red federal government and Chancellor Friedrich Merz is at historic lows.

AI-generated summary

Why It Matters

The survey shows a growing gap between the AfD and the Union, while the AfD reaches a new record and the Union continues to fall. Satisfaction with the government and the Chancellor is at historic lows.

Font size

The AfD is distancing itself further and further from the Union. According to a new Insa survey, the gap between the two parties is now 13 percentage points. While the AfD rose to a new record of 30.5 percent (+ 1 percent), if there were a federal election on Sunday, the CDU/CSU would only reach 17.5 percent (- 1.5 percent).

For the other parties, the changes compared to the previous week are minimal. While the SPD and the Greens are still at 14.5 percent, the Left Party with 10.5 percent and the FDP with 4.5 percent each gain half a percentage point. The BSW would receive an unchanged 3.5 percent. Both the FDP and the BSW would therefore continue to miss out on entering the Bundestag.

Infratest Dimap also asked about satisfaction with the black-red federal government. 10 percent of those surveyed were very satisfied or satisfied with this (+/-0). In contrast, 89 percent were less or not at all satisfied with the SPD and the Union (+1 point).

With regard to the work of Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz, 10 percent said they were very satisfied or satisfied (-3 points). The CDU chairman thus achieved the lowest satisfaction rating for a chancellor in the history of the ARD Germany trend. 88 percent were less or not at all satisfied with their work (+5 points).

What to Watch

AI outlook — possibilities, not facts

  • The AfD is likely to become the strongest force in the next federal election if the current trend continues.

    Likely · Within months

Open Questions

  • How will this trend affect the next federal election?
  • What measures is the Union planning to take to catch up?
  • How are other parties reacting to the rise of the AfD?

Related Topics

This article was originally published by Die Welt.

Related Stories

Applications for conscientious objection have risen sharply in Germany
Developing·

Applications for conscientious objection have risen sharply in Germany

The number of applications for conscientious objection in Germany rose to 12,102 from January to August 2026, compared to 3,879 in all of 2025 and 2,249 in 2024. The reasons could be growing tensions between NATO and Russia as well as the new military service law, which from July 2027 provides for compulsory military service for men born in 2008, while military service remains voluntary.

Die Zeit
1 min read
USA warns foreign financial institutions against doing business with Iran
BREAKING·

USA warns foreign financial institutions against doing business with Iran

The U.S. Treasury Department is warning foreign financial institutions that they could be subject to sanctions without notice if they continue to do business with Iran or its financial sector. At the same time, the conflict in Yemen is escalating, with Saudi-backed government forces launching an offensive against Houthi rebels seeking to retake strategic areas such as Bab al-Mandab and Sanaa, while Iran seeks to increase its missile range and keep the Strait of Hormuz closed.

Handelsblatt
3 min read
The Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution is examining connections between Berlin's left-wing top candidate Elif Eralp and terrorist groups
Developing·

The Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution is examining connections between Berlin's left-wing top candidate Elif Eralp and terrorist groups

The head of the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution, Sinan Selen, spoke in the Bundestag about the connections of Berlin's left-wing top candidate Elif Eralp and other politicians to terrorist groups. Among other things, meetings with Kurdish organizations and previous membership in the left-wing extremist “Red Help” were mentioned. The authorities are investigating whether Eralp and Ferat Kocak have connections to the PKK.

Die Welt
2 min read
More on this topicafd