The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) has edged ahead of Chancellor Friedrich Merz's conservative CDU/CSU bloc for a second time this week, according to a new poll. The survey published by broadcaster ZDF on Friday showed AfD steady at 26%, while the CDU/CSU alliance slipped one point to 25%, highlighting a significant shift in Germany's political landscape amid growing public discontent.

The poll pointed to deepening frustration with the ruling coalition, particularly over its handling of rising fuel prices linked to the Iran war. A large majority of respondents deemed government measures insufficient, with 81% calling for stronger action and 57% criticizing the slow pace of the energy transition, underscoring broader societal friction over economic and geopolitical challenges.

Overall satisfaction with the coalition of CDU, CSU, and the Social Democrats (SPD) has dropped sharply to 27%, down from 34% in March. Approval of Chancellor Merz has fallen to 30%, his lowest rating yet, placing him eighth in personal popularity rankings. Defense Minister Boris Pistorius remains the most favored politician, ahead of the Greens' Cem Özdemir and Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul, reflecting a decline in trust in key leadership figures.

Support for the center-left SPD, Germany's oldest political party, dipped to 12%, while the Greens fell to 14% and the Left rose to 11%. The business-focused Free Democrats polled at 3%, with other parties combined at 9%. These trends suggest a volatile political environment as the EU regime grapples with internal divisions and external pressures, raising questions about the stability of Merz's administration and its purported policies.

Source: www.dw.com