The latest ZDF-“Politbarometer” survey shows that the CDU is increasing in popularity, with party leader Friedrich Merz gaining ground. Meanwhile, the AfD and Greens are losing support. The CDU would secure over 30 percent of the votes if an election were held on Sunday, according to the survey. The AfD, on the other hand, is experiencing a nationwide decline in popularity, with the exception of Thuringia, where they remain stable at 30 percent.
In a recent survey, the Union has slightly increased in popularity and would remain the strongest political force in Germany by a large margin. According to the ZDF-“Politbarometer,” if the Bundestag election were held next Sunday, the CDU and CSU would secure 31 percent of the votes. This represents a one percent improvement compared to the previous survey conducted three weeks ago. The AfD would come in second place with 16 percent, marking their lowest score in a ZDF-“Politbarometer” in over a year. The SPD remains steady at 15 percent, while the Greens see a decrease of two points to 13 percent. The FDP would barely enter parliament with five percent, the BSW would also secure five percent, and the Left party would fall short of the five percent threshold with four percent.
According to the survey, the performance of the federal government continues to be poorly rated by respondents. Two out of three (63 percent) are dissatisfied, while only a third believe they are doing a good job. Only 34 percent of respondents trust the Union to lead a government more effectively. Following the CDU party conference and his re-election, CDU leader Friedrich Merz is gaining popularity among voters. He now ranks third in the politician ranking, behind Defense Minister Boris Pistorius and CSU leader Markus Söder. Among Union supporters, Merz outperforms Söder and NRW Minister-President Hendrik Wüst in terms of chancellor suitability.
The survey also asked about the political mood regarding the European elections. If the election were held next Sunday, the Union would garner 31 percent of the votes, with the Greens and AfD each securing 15 percent, and the SPD at 14 percent. The BSW would reach five percent, the FDP four percent, and the Left three percent. The Mannheimer Forschungsgruppe Wahlen conducted the survey for the “Politbarometer” from May 14th to 16th, interviewing 1247 randomly selected eligible voters by phone and online. The possible margin of error is approximately two to three percentage points.
Overall, the CDU and Merz are seeing an increase in support, while the AfD and Greens are experiencing a decline in popularity. Despite ongoing dissatisfaction with the federal government, the Union remains the dominant political force in Germany. The upcoming European elections also reflect a similar pattern in terms of party support. It remains to be seen how these trends will impact the political landscape in the coming weeks and months.
