Germany's AfD tops poll as party congress invokes Nazi anniversary

A recent German poll shows the far‑right Alternative for Germany (AfD) at 29% of voter intention, maintaining its position as the leading party and widening its lead over the CDU/CSU alliance to an eight‑point gap. The survey also reveals a split public opinion on a possible ban of the AfD, with 40% supporting a ban and 45% opposing it.

During the party's congress in Thuringia, the AfD deliberately aligned the event with the centennial of the 1926 Nazi Party congress. Speakers, including Thuringian AfD leader Björn Höcke, referenced the historic Nazi gathering and used rhetoric that praised the party's radical wing, intensifying concerns about the party’s extremist orientation.

Analysts note that the AfD’s strong poll performance combined with its overt glorification of Nazi‑era symbols marks a further shift toward radicalization, raising questions about its influence on Germany’s political landscape and coalition possibilities.