AfD leads in Germany after new poll

Populist parties gain ground in major European democracies, including Germany and Britain.

AfD leads in Germany as populist wave reshapes Europe

A new survey shows the AfD climbing since February’s federal election and now being the largest opposition party in Germany’s Bundestag. The party has built on its best-ever vote share from February, and remains a focal point for debate over migration and economic policy. While conservative forces like the Christian Democrats maintain a lead in some polls, the AfD’s rise is clear and its position in the parliament is unambiguous.

In Britain, Nigel Farage’s Reform UK also tops polls amid broad public dissatisfaction with Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s Labour government. Within Germany, CDU leader Friedrich Merz faces growing discontent at home, with 67 percent of Germans saying they are not happy with his performance after about 100 days in office. The next German federal election is scheduled for 2029, a timeline that could shape how parties respond to this shift in public sentiment.

The data points to a Europe-wide realignment where voters drift away from traditional blocs and toward populist messages. In Germany, the AfD’s status as the largest opposition party complicates the governing arithmetic for mainstream parties and could push policy toward tougher migration and security stances. Yet the broader political climate remains unsettled: dissatisfaction with Merz’s leadership may create openings for coalition partners to recalibrate priorities before 2029.

This trend also tests how democracies balance dissent with constitutional boundaries and social cohesion. While polls capture a moment, the real test will be whether mainstream parties craft credible alternative plans that address voters’ everyday concerns without legitimizing extremist options. The cross-border resonance of these shifts underscores how domestic politics can ripple through Europe’s unity and security debates.

Highlights

Voter sentiment can change quickly, but the questions that matter now are policy credibility and democratic resilience.