A newly published survey has indicated that more than 28 million citizens—one-third of the voters—have thought about voting for the anti-globalist Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) party in a state or federal election.
The survey, carried out by the highly regarded German political and market research firm Institute for New Social Answers (INSA) for BILD, revealed that 33% of respondents answered yes to the question: “Have you ever thought about voting for the AfD?” the Berlin-based daily newspaper Die Welt reports.
At the same time, 62% of respondents reported that they had not yet considered ticking the AfD box, while the remaining 5% did not provide an answer.
The survey placed the AfD in second place, with 21% of the vote, up from 20.5% the previous week. The Union (CDU/CSU) remains the top party, at 26%, while the SPD, Greens, and FDP sit at 19.5%, 13.5%, and 7%, respectively. Collective support for the three parties—the so-called ‘traffic light coalition’—stands at the 40% mark.
The Left party, meanwhile, continues to sit at 4.5% and therefore would not re-enter parliament if federal elections were held today. The remaining parties, together, would garner 8.5% of the national vote, according to the opinion poll.
With the numbers as they stand, securing an absolute parliamentary majority can be achieved by three potential coalitions.
- The black-red coalition (CDU/CSU-SPD)—what some refer to as the Grand Coalition—which, if the vote were to take place today, would collect 45.5%, just above the roughly 44% required to form a majority.
- At 46.5%, the so-called Jamaica coalition, composed of the CDU/CSU, Greens, and FDP, also has enough support to form a ruling coalition.
- Lastly, in the case that CDU does away with its ‘firewall’ against the AfD, which at this point seems highly unlikely, the parties could form a ruling coalition with 47% of the national vote.
The revelation that one out of three Germans has pondered casting a vote for the AfD in the state or federal parliamentary elections comes as calls to ban the party outright are growing louder among left-globalist politicians.
President of the Federal Republic Frank-Walter Steinmeier (SPD), SPD co-leader Saskia Asken, Thomas Haldenwang, who heads the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution, or BfV, the daily left-liberal newspaper Der Spiegel, and other less influential political figures and organizations have voiced support for banning the anti-establishment party.
