Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) has widened its lead over the CDU/CSU alliance to seven percentage points, marking the party’s largest advantage to date in Forsa polling.
According to the newly released RTL/ntv “Trendbarometer,” the AfD rose by one point to 28%, its strongest showing since May. Conversely, the Union dropped to 21%, matching its lowest recorded score since the February 2025 federal election. Meanwhile, the Greens remain stable in third place at 16%, while both the SPD and the Left party stand tied at 12% each.
Public discontent with Germany’s political leadership is becoming more pronounced, especially regarding Chancellor Friedrich Merz. Dissatisfaction with Merz’s performance has climbed by two points to a striking 85%, leaving his approval rate at a meager 14%. Furthermore, a growing majority of Germans have lost faith in the political establishment as a whole, with 56% of those surveyed stating that they trust absolutely no political party to effectively resolve the country’s pressing problems.
When asked which specific faction possesses the necessary political competence to manage Germany’s challenges, the results were overwhelmingly low across the entire spectrum. Only 14% of respondents trust the leading AfD to handle the nation’s issues, followed by the Union at 12%. The Greens and the Left party both scored a minimal 6% in perceived competence, while the co-governing SPD lagged behind at a mere 4%.
The poll was conducted by the Forsa Institute between July 28 and August 3, 2026, surveying a representative sample of 2,501 individuals.
