BERLIN – A new political survey reveals that Germany’s far-right Alternative for Germany party has surged to a commanding lead in an eastern German state, positioning the controversial group to potentially control a regional government for the first time in the country’s modern history.
According to the infratest dimap polling data released Thursday, the Alternative for Germany now commands 41% voter support in Saxony Anhalt state, representing a two-point increase from previous surveys. This places the party significantly ahead of Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s Christian Democratic Union, which sits at 26%, while the Social Democrats lag far behind at just 7%.
The polling results highlight growing voter dissatisfaction with Germany’s current federal coalition government, coming just one year into Merz’s tenure as chancellor. While the Alternative for Germany has historically performed strongest in former East German territories, the party now rivals the CDU in nationwide polling as well.
Political observers note that mainstream parties have refused to form coalitions with the Alternative for Germany, citing the party’s hardline immigration stance and advocacy for strengthened relationships with Russia. However, these traditional parties face mounting challenges in countering the far-right group’s appeal, particularly as economic uncertainty from Middle Eastern conflicts threatens Germany’s economic recovery.
The September 6th election could present significant coalition-building challenges if other parties maintain their opposition to working with the Alternative for Germany. Current polling shows the Left party at 12%, while both the Green party and the populist BSW party sit at 4% each – below the minimum threshold required for state parliament representation.
