A new survey reveals a significant shift in German political sentiment, with the Alternative for Germany (AfD) now ahead of the Christian Democratic Union/Christian Social Union (CDU/CSU) in the monthly “Sunday Question” poll conducted by YouGov. The AfD currently holds 27% of the vote, a two-point increase, surpassing the CDU/CSU’s 26%, representing a one-point decrease from mid-August.
The Social Democratic Party (SPD) stands at 15% (+1), the Green Party at 11% (-1), the Left Party at 9% (-1), the Basis Social Movement (BSW) at 5% (unchanged), the Free Democratic Party (FDP) at 4% (+1) and other parties collectively at 4% (unchanged).
The survey also examined public opinion regarding the “Bürgergeld” (basic income support) system. A majority (51%) of those polled view the system as (somewhat) unfair. This sentiment is particularly pronounced among CDU/CSU voters, where 63% consider it unfair, compared to 36% among SPD voters.
Opinions diverge sharply regarding the adequacy of the “Bürgergeld” payment level. While 38% of all voters agree that the payment is insufficient to provide a dignified life, this view is most prevalent among Green Party (58%) and Left Party (56%) voters. Conversely, a majority of CDU/CSU (65%), AfD (63%) and SPD (47%) voters believe the payment is adequate.
Furthermore, a substantial proportion of voters express concern that the limited difference between “Bürgergeld” and the minimum wage diminishes the incentive to work. This view is strongly held by CDU/CSU voters (81%) and even more so by AfD supporters (89%). SPD voters are also somewhat inclined to agree with this assessment (57%), followed by Green Party voters (47%) and Left Party voters (52%).
