Friedrich Merz Leads in Polls as Bundestag Election Nears

The CDU/CSU candidate gains momentum while the Left Party surpasses the 5% threshold for Bundestag representation.

Friedrich Merz, the CDU/CSU candidate for chancellor, leads with 31% support, gaining four percentage points in the latest ZDF Politbarometer poll.
Robert Habeck of the Greens drops to 25%, while SPD's Olaf Scholz improves slightly to 16%, reclaiming third place over AfD's Alice Weidel at 15%.
The Left Party secures 5% for the first time since October 2023, positioning itself for Bundestag reentry, while the FDP and Bündnis Sahra Wagenknecht remain below the 5% threshold at 4% and 3%, respectively.
CDU/CSU maintains 30% support, followed by AfD at 21%, SPD at 15%, and the Greens at 14%, with Union-SPD or Union-Green coalitions remaining viable options.
A majority of respondents support CDU's rejection of cooperation with the AfD, while skepticism persists about the Union's ability to improve Germany's economic situation if elected.