A new ZDF Politbarometer survey indicates a shift in German political standing, with the CDU/CSU bloc demonstrating an ability to distance itself from the AfD. Should a federal election occur next Sunday, the CDU/CSU would see an increase to 27 percent, an uptick of one percentage point. The AfD would register at 25 percent, also a one-point gain, while the SPD remains steady at 15 percent.
The Green Party could experience a slight advancement to 11 percent, with the Left Party holding firm at 11 percent and the FDP maintaining three percent. All other parties combined would receive eight percent, a decrease of one point, with no individual party securing at least three percent. Based on these projections, a “black-red” coalition (CDU/CSU and SPD) would continue to lack a parliamentary majority.
Reflecting on the 35th anniversary of German reunification, the survey reveals a significant portion of the population believes that the challenges stemming from reunification remain largely unresolved. Forty-seven percent of respondents in Western Germany and 57 percent in Eastern Germany hold this view. Conversely, 49 percent and 41 percent respectively, believe the issues have been substantially addressed.
Perceptions of the personal impact of reunification differ considerably between East and West. In Eastern Germany, a significant majority (62 percent) view the reunification’s effects on their lives positively, with only nine percent citing negative impacts and 26 percent seeing minimal influence. Western Germans, however, display a different perspective; 64 percent report the reunification having had little to no influence on their lives, while 29 percent acknowledge positive effects and only three percent perceive negative consequences.
The Politbarometer survey was commissioned by ZDF and conducted by the Mannheim-based Forschungsgruppe Wahlen. Data was collected through telephone and online interviews with 1,300 eligible voters between September 30th and October 2nd, 2025.
