According to new Forsa data, the SPD, led by Chancellor Olaf Scholz, has seen a slight improvement in comparison to the previous week, surpassing the AfD for the first time in ten months. The Union remains the strongest party, while the BSW would fall below the five percent threshold. Recent troubles surrounding the AfD, such as a member being arrested for spying for the Chinese secret service and suspicions of receiving payments from Russia, have not seemed to affect the party’s standing in the polls. The AfD remains at 16 percent, while the SPD has improved by one percentage point to 17 percent, overtaking the AfD for the first time since June 2023. The Linke has also slightly improved to 3 percent, with the CDU/CSU (30 percent) and the BSW (4 percent) each losing a percentage point. The Green Party (12 percent) and the FDP (5 percent) have remained unchanged, with other parties collectively at 13 percent.
In terms of direct elections for Chancellor, in a scenario involving Scholz, Merz, and Habeck, 17 percent would choose Scholz, 23 percent would choose Merz, and 17 percent would choose Habeck. In a different scenario with Scholz, Merz, and Baerbock, 21 percent would choose Scholz, 26 percent would choose Merz, and 16 percent would choose Baerbock. When asked if Friedrich Merz would make a better Chancellor, 35 percent said yes, while 57 percent said no. FDP (53 percent), AfD (57 percent), and Union party (63 percent) supporters believe Merz would be a better Chancellor, while a third of CDU/CSU supporters do not. Only 10 percent of SPD supporters believe Merz would be a better Chancellor, with 87 percent supporting Scholz. The Green Party has 90 percent supporting Scholz and 7 percent supporting Merz.
A majority of respondents continue to oppose the delivery of Taurus cruise missiles to Ukraine, with 56 percent against compared to 37 percent in favor. This is a decrease in opposition from previous months. The Green Party supporters (63 percent) are the only group predominantly in favor of the delivery, while SPD (52 percent) and FDP (63 percent) supporters mostly oppose it. CDU/CSU supporters are divided on the issue. Those most opposed to the Taurus delivery are BSW (95 percent) and AfD (87 percent) supporters. The data was collected by Forsa from April 23 to 29, with 2,505 participants and a margin of error of +/- 2.5 percentage points.
The ongoing debate surrounding the delivery of Taurus cruise missiles to Ukraine has sparked varying opinions among different political party supporters. Despite recent controversies affecting the AfD, the party has maintained its standing in the polls, with the SPD overtaking it for the first time in nearly a year. The CDU/CSU and the BSW have lost some support, while the Green Party and the FDP remain steady. In terms of Chancellor preferences, Friedrich Merz is seen as a better choice by supporters of certain parties, with the majority of respondents believing he would not make a better Chancellor than Scholz. The issue of Taurus missile delivery to Ukraine continues to divide opinions among supporters of different political parties, with opposition decreasing slightly compared to previous months.
