Support for Merz’s party hits record low as AfD surges – poll

The chancellor’s CDU/CSU bloc has fallen to just 18% nationwide, according to INSA Nationwide support for German Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s CDU/CSU alliance has collapsed to a historic low following a series of defeats in regional elections, a new poll has suggested.The bloc’s popular backing stood at just 18%, its worst result in Germany’s postwar history, according to a survey conducted by the INSA polling institution on behalf of Bild.The poll put the right-wing Alternative for Germany (AfD) at 30%, its highest result since the party was established in 2013. It remains the most popular party in Germany by a wide margin, the poll suggested. The CDU/CSU’s junior coalition partners, the Social Democrats and the Greens are polling at 14% each, and the Left Party is at 10%.The survey was conducted between September 28 and October 2 among 1,202 eligible voters, with the results published on Saturday. Support for the CDU/CSU has fallen sharply since Merz took office as chancellor in May 2025. INSA put the bloc at around 30% shortly before he assumed the post, compared with 18% now.Merz has been described as Germany’s least popular head of government in some 30 years. He came to power ...