According to a recent Infratest survey-also part of the ARD-Deutschlandtrend-which assessed registered voters between September 28th and September 30th, the AfD currently leads the polls with an unchanged 27 percent, assuming a federal election were to take place this Sunday. The CDU/Union holds a position of 20 percent, a slight drop of one percentage point compared to early September. The SPD remains steady at 13 percent, while the Greens register 16 percent (up one point), and the Left Party stands at 11 percent (down one point). The FDP is unchanged at 4 percent, placing it below the parliamentary representation threshold. All other parties combined account for 9 percent, which is an increase of one point.
Regarding the performance of the federal government, the survey indicates that 10 percent of respondents are either very satisfied or satisfied with the administration’s work, matching a national flash poll conducted on September 7th. Furthermore, a substantial 89 percent of Germans are less or entirely dissatisfied with the performance of the Union and SPD.
The satisfaction rate for Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) is currently 10 percent, comprising those who are very satisfied or satisfied. This marks a three-percentage-point decline from early September and represents his lowest satisfaction rating in the history of the ARD-Deutschlandtrend. Conversely, 88 percent of respondents report being less or entirely dissatisfied with Merz.
In ministerial ratings, Boris Pistorius (SPD), the Minister of Defence, enjoys strong approval, with half of all respondents (50 percent) expressing satisfaction or very satisfaction, a slight drop of one point. Johann Wadephul (CDU), the Foreign Minister, remains at 34 percent approval, unchanged. Alexander Dobrindt (CSU), the Interior Minister, received a 27 percent satisfaction rating (down three points), meaning 55 percent are dissatisfied (up three points). Lars Klingbeil (SPD), Deputy Chancellor and Finance Minister, has 20 percent approval (down two points), while 67 percent are dissatisfied (up two points). The new Health Minister, Carsten Linnemann (CDU), has 18 percent satisfaction among respondents, with 52 percent finding his work dissatisfying. Bärbel Bas (SPD), the Minister of Labour, is rated 17 percent satisfactory (down one point); however, 58 percent feel dissatisfied (down one point).
Focusing on the opposition figures, Tino Chrupalla, the AfD parliamentary group leader, is trusted by 22 percent (unchanged from August), while 56 percent are dissatisfied (up five points). Heidi Reichinnek, co-leader of the Left Party, is rated satisfactory by 16 percent (down three points compared to August). However, 46 percent are dissatisfied (up four points), and 38 percent either do not know her or refuse to give an opinion. Britta Haßelmann, the Greens parliamentary group leader, currently enjoys a satisfactory rating from 9 percent (down two points from August). Only 26 percent report being less or entirely dissatisfied (down two points), though a majority (65 percent) state they do not know her or are unwilling to judge.
