AfD surges: Draws level with CDU/CSU in landmark poll
Alternative for Germany (AfD) has, for the first time, reached the same level of support as the Christian Democratic CDU/CSU, garnering 24% in the Insa poll. This marks a significant achievement for the right-wing populist party.
What do you need to know?
- AfD and CDU/CSU currently both have 24% support in a poll conducted by the Insa institute for "Bild".
- The Christian Democrats have lost 6 percentage points since March, marking the biggest drop in support since the Bundestag elections.
- Alice Weidel, co-chair of AfD, expressed delight at the results, emphasising that the party cannot be overlooked in political calculations.
What are the reactions to the poll results?
The Insa poll results, published by "Bild", reveal that AfD has drawn level with CDU/CSU, each securing 24% support. This is the first time the right-wing populist party has reached this level. Alice Weidel, co-chair of AfD, expressed her joy on platform X, thanking voters for their support. She emphasised that "there's no way to bypass AfD" in future coalitions.
What does the drop in support mean for CDU/CSU?
The CDU/CSU bloc has experienced a decline in support, losing 6 percentage points since March. Hermann Binkert, head of the Insa institute, noted that never before has there been such a loss of support between elections and the formation of a government. Many voters are dissatisfied with the lack of decisive action from CDU/CSU in coalition talks with the SPD.
The Greens and the Left Party are also experiencing changes in support, each obtaining 11%. The poll results suggest the rising strength of AfD, which could influence future coalition arrangements in Germany.
Currently, coalition negotiations are ongoing between the CDU/CSU and the SPD, which placed behind AfD with a result of 16.4% in the federal elections.
