Alternative for Germany (AfD) has taken the national lead in polling, overtaking the CDU/CSU—as Chancellor Friedrich Merz faces sharply declining approval ratings, according to a new survey.
The latest Forsa poll for RTL and ntv shows 80% of respondents are dissatisfied with Merz’s performance, marking his lowest personal standing to date. The survey also indicates that, for the first time, a majority of Union supporters are dissatisfied with the Chancellor’s work.
Merz is facing criticism for the “full-bodied announcements without consequence” (23%), “broken election promises” (22%), “no clear line,” “contradictory action” (14%), and a “lack of leadership” (13%). His personal approval rating has dropped to around 20%.
While Merz’s hardline “Merz Doctrine” on Syrian repatriation was intended to win back conservative voters, the data suggests it may be alienating his base without slowing the surge of the Right.
At the same time, the CDU/CSU has fallen to 24%, down two points from the previous week and its weakest result since January. The AfD now leads with 26%, placing it ahead of the Union for the first time in the current polling cycle. The SPD remains stable at 12%, the Greens at 15%, while the Left rises to 11%. The FDP reaches 4%, still below the threshold for Bundestag entry.
