According to a new Infratest survey, the AfD appears poised to further solidify its lead in electoral favor. If a federal election were held this Sunday, the Union party, according to the polling data released by the “ARD Deutschlandtrend,” would secure 22 percent, a slight decrease of one percentage point compared to the beginning of June.
The AfD remains stable at 27 percent, keeping a five-percentage-point lead over the remaining parties. The Social Democrats (SPD) lost a point, dropping to 12 percent. The Greens saw a small increase, rising to 15 percent (+1), while The Left advanced one point to 11 percent (+1). The Free Democratic Party (FDP) may again be projected at 4 percent, placing it below the threshold needed for a parliamentary mandate. All other parties collectively accounted for 9 percent (+/- 0).
Infratest surveyed 1,317 people between Monday and Wednesday of this week, prior to the federal government unveiling its reform initiatives on Thursday morning.
Regarding the government’s work, 13 percent of respondents reported being “very satisfied” or “satisfied” (+1). Conversely, five out of six Germans (86 percent) expressed dissatisfaction or no satisfaction with the performance of the Union and SPD.
Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) is rated poorly; only 13 percent are satisfied, a decrease of three points (-3). Furthermore, 84 percent are dissatisfied or very dissatisfied with him. These are the worst figures recorded for an incumbent chancellor in the history of the ARD “Deutschlandtrend.”
Within the federal cabinet, Defense Minister Boris Pistorius (SPD) remains the best-rated official at 52 percent satisfied/very satisfied, though this is a two-point decline (-2). Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul (CDU) received 28 percent satisfaction, also down two points (-2). Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt (CSU) achieved 22 percent satisfaction (+1), while 58 percent reported being dissatisfied with him (+/- 0).
Vice-Chancellor and Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil (SPD) continues to struggle, receiving only 21 percent satisfaction against 64 percent disapproval (+1). Party colleague and Minister of Labor, Bärbel Bas, maintained 18 percent satisfaction (+2), with 60 percent dissatisfied. Minister of Economics, Katherina Reiche (CDU), saw a notable drop of four points (-4), settling at 11 percent satisfaction, while 63 percent are dissatisfied (+6).
Turning to the opposition, 27 percent are satisfied with Alice Weidel, the AfD parliamentary group leader (+1 compared to May); however, 63 percent are dissatisfied with her (-1). Greens Party leader Franziska Brantner received 11 percent satisfaction (-1), while 32 percent were dissatisfied (+3). Moreover, a majority (57 percent) did not know her or felt unable to pass judgment on her. Newly re-elected The Left leader Ines Schwerdtner achieved 9 percent satisfaction (+2), but 25 percent were dissatisfied (+4), and two-thirds (66 percent) did not know her or felt unable to pass judgment.
