AfD leads German polls as public rejects coalition with party

Recent opinion polls show the Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) maintaining its position as the leading party ahead of the Union (CDU/CSU) in Germany. The Forsa survey for Stern and RTL reported the AfD at 26 % of voter intention, while the INSA‑Umfrage recorded a rise to 29 %, and a GMS poll placed the AfD at 28 %. In contrast, the Union fell to between 20 % and 23 %, its lowest level since November 2021. The SPD, Greens and other governing parties each hover around 12‑13 %.

A separate Forsa study on the “Brandmauer” – the political rule to exclude the AfD from coalition talks – found that 58 % of Germans nationwide oppose any collaboration with the party. Regional differences are stark: 61 % of respondents in western states reject an AfD coalition, while a slim majority of 53 % in eastern states support it. Among AfD voters, 91 % favour cooperation, whereas supporters of other parties overwhelmingly reject it.

The data suggest a weakening of the Brandmauer and a continuing rise of the AfD’s electoral strength ahead of upcoming state elections in Mecklenburg‑Vorpommern and Sachsen‑Anhalt.