# AfD political and economic influence in Germany > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/afd-political-and-economic-influence-in-germany > Updated: 2026-08-15T00:00:00.000Z. Sources: 20. Developments: 2. The political standing and economic positioning of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) have come under scrutiny. Steffen Kampeter, Managing Director of the Confederation of German Employers' Associations (BDA), criticized the concept of a political ‘firewall’ against the party, stating that the BDA cannot support such a principle as its workforce is politically diverse and it is not the role of employers to dictate voting behavior. Simultaneously, polling data indicates that the AfD has emerged as the strongest party among German workers, with support estimated between 30 and 38 percent. Despite this popularity, research from the University of Tübingen suggests the party’s platform is not inherently worker-friendly. Analysis of the party’s programs from 2013 through recent elections places the AfD on the ‘market-liberal, business-friendly, and fiscally conservative pole’ of the political spectrum, with one study noting a 92 percent market-liberal position. Recent INSA polling indicates a significant shift in the German political landscape ahead of regional elections in Saxony-Anhalt, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, and Berlin. The AfD has become the most popular party nationally with 28 percent of voting intentions, leading the CDU/CSU conservative bloc by eight percentage points. The CDU/CSU has fallen to 20 percent support, its lowest level since October 2021, amid high public dissatisfaction with leader Friedrich Merz. In Saxony-Anhalt, the AfD shows particularly strong momentum, reaching 42 percent in polls, which could potentially allow the party to enter a state government for the first time. A University of Tübingen study reaffirmed the party’s economic positioning, concluding it maintains a market-liberal and fiscally conservative stance, placing it between the CDU/CSU and the FDP on economic issues. ## Claims - The AfD has reached 28% of voting intentions nationally. (corroborated by 12 sources) - The CDU/CSU conservative bloc has 20% of voting intentions. (corroborated by 11 sources) - The CDU/CSU bloc is at its lowest support level since October 2021. (corroborated by 11 sources) - The AfD has reached 42% of voting intentions in Saxony-Anhalt. (corroborated by 4 sources) - The Greens have 13% of voting intentions. (corroborated by 4 sources) - The SPD and Die Linke each have 12% of voting intentions. (corroborated by 4 sources) - The FDP is at 5% of voting intentions. (corroborated by 4 sources) - The Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance (BSW) has 3% of voting intentions. (corroborated by 4 sources) - The AfD maintains a market-liberal and fiscally conservative economic position. (corroborated by 2 sources) - 78% of respondents expressed dissatisfaction with Friedrich Merz's performance. (corroborated by 2 sources) ## Timeline ### 2026-08-15: AfD leads German polls as CDU/CSU support hits five-year low New INSA polls show the AfD leading Germany's political landscape with 28% support, while the CDU/CSU has dropped to a five-year low of 20% ahead of key regional elections. 16 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/afd-emerges-as-strongest-party-among-german-workers ### 2026-08-09: German employer association criticizes political 'firewall' against AfD The BDA's Steffen Kampeter criticized the 'Brandmauer' concept, arguing employers should not dictate political choices, while noting the AfD's Euroskeptic stance is a disadvantage for Germany. 4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/german-employer-association-criticizes-political-firewall-against-afd --- Cite as: AfD political and economic influence in Germany. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/afd-political-and-economic-influence-in-germany