Berlin election polls show CDU and Die Linke in tight race

Political activity in Germany is intensifying ahead of upcoming elections. In Berlin, a new INSA poll shows the CDU leading with 20 percent, narrowly ahead of Die Linke at 19 percent. The race remains highly competitive, with the AfD at 17 percent, the Greens at 16 percent, and the SPD at 15 percent. The CDU's momentum follows the withdrawal of Kai Wegner, replaced by Stefan Evers. Meanwhile, the Green party is campaigning with Werner Graf as its mayoral candidate.

In Saxony-Anhalt, CDU candidate Sven Schulze faced online criticism over a campaign poster error involving a woman in a wheelchair. Additionally, Die Linke candidate Eva von Angern is using a slogan inspired by former CDU leader Wolfgang Böhmer to signal a call for social justice and a coalition against the AfD.

Economist Veronika Grimm has criticized warnings that an AfD victory would harm economic growth, arguing instead that Germany must focus on structural reforms in education, regulation, and labor law to remain competitive.