Germany: Center-right and Far-right Tied in Poll for the First Time

As the Christian Union (CDU/CSU) continues negotiations to form a new ‘grand coalition’ government with the Social Democrats (SPD), a surprising development has emerged. The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) is now tied with the center-right bloc for the first time in a poll, according to a survey published Saturday (April 5, 2025). The Christian Democrats (CDU) and their sister party, the Christian Social Union (CSU) of Bavaria, gathered 24% of voting intentions (-2% compared to the previous survey), while the AfD also garnered 24% (+1%), as per the INSA institute’s poll conducted for Bild. This marks a historic shift in post-war German politics, where the far-right emerged as the second parliamentary force in recent elections, securing 20.8% of the vote. Meanwhile, the center-left SPD remains at 16%, reflecting stagnation since the February election. The Greens and The Left party are tied at 11%. Neither the Free Democrats (FDP) nor the Zar Alliance would secure the required 5% threshold for Bundestag entry based on current polling trends.