The latest ARD-DeutschlandTrend poll in Germany confirms the impressive rise of the AfD. The far-right party now shares first place in voter intentions with CDU/CSU, both at 26%. AfD has gained 10 percentage points over the past year and added another point since the last survey, while CDU/CSU lost one. Meanwhile, the SPD remains stagnant at 14%, far behind AfD and distant from its goals. The Greens follow at 12% (+1), Die Linke stays at 10%, while Sahra Wagenknecht’s BSW and the FDP have collapsed to just 3%, well below the 5% parliamentary threshold.
The poll reveals a surge in dissatisfaction: 77% of Germans say they are disappointed with the government’s performance, up from 51% in June. Only 42% express satisfaction with how democracy functions, while 56% are dissatisfied—a figure rising to 91% among AfD voters.
On perceived threats, 30% view the far-right and right-wing populism as dangerous to democracy, 20% fear political paralysis, 9% worry about external threats, and 63% believe Russia could attack other European countries.
AfD has solidified its position as Germany’s second-largest political force, regularly polling between 20% and 26%, often tied with CDU/CSU. Its strongest support comes from eastern states, where it leads in several regional polls. The party is co-led by Alice Weidel, an economist seen as its main public face, who combines anti-immigration and Eurosceptic rhetoric with a relatively moderate image compared to earlier leaders.
Nonetheless, AfD remains embroiled in scandals—links to extremist groups, hardline stances on refugees and Islam, and investigations into foreign funding and espionage—sparking intense debate. In some states, intelligence agencies monitor the party over suspicions of anti-democratic activities.