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16h ago

Merz Faces Coalition Rift as Far Right AfD Tops National Poll

Coalition infighting over a pulled constitutional court nomination has left voters disillusioned, boosting the AfD to 26 percent support.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz arrives to attend ARD summer interview, in Berlin, Germany, July 13, 2025. REUTERS/Fabrizio Bensch/File Photo
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz walks after attending a press conference about domestic and foreign policy issues at the House of the 'Bundespressekonferenz' in Berlin, Germany July 18, 2025. REUTERS/Christian Mang/File Photo
BERLIN, GERMANY - 2023/10/03: Supporters of the far right party AfD (Alternative for Germany) gather and hold German and AfD party flags in front of the Berlin Cathedral on the 33rd anniversary of German Unity Day. Protesters gathered for pro-Russia protest, where they marched from Brandenburg Gate to the Berlin Cathedral during the commemoration of the German Unity Day. The fall of the Berlin Wall on the 9th of November in 1989, which marked the end of the Cold War, paved the way for German reunification barely a year later. The Unification Treaty, which was signed on the 20th of September in 1990 and declared the 3rd of October a national holiday, sealed the end of the division of Germany. (Photo by Nicholas Muller/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)
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Overview

  • A Forsa poll published Aug. 12 shows the AfD leading at 26 percent support, ahead of the CDU/CSU’s 24 percent and leaving the SPD at a historic low of around 13 percent.
  • The ruling CDU/CSU–SPD coalition has fractured after the SPD’s nominee to the Federal Constitutional Court, Frauke Brosius-Gersdorf, withdrew her candidacy on Aug. 7 following CDU withdrawal of support.
  • Chancellor Merz’s decision to suspend arms exports to Israel on Aug. 8 sparked backlash from conservative allies who cited Germany’s historical obligations even as it gained approval from segments of voters.
  • Merz’s personal approval ratings remain weak, with recent polls placing his satisfaction level at around 29 to 32 percent, lower than his predecessors at the same point.
  • Despite domestic volatility, the government is pressing ahead with its assertive defense agenda, including a pledge to raise military spending toward 3.5 percent of GDP.