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2mo ago

AfD Closes In on Union as SPD Falls to 12% in New ARD Poll

Collapsing approval plus tax worries raise pressure on the Merz coalition to rethink fiscal plans.

Nach einem Jahr Merz herrscht eine derartige politische Flaute, dass selbst die Fahne am Bundestag nicht mehr weht.
Zwei Drittel der Bundesbürger fühlen sich dem neuen "Deutschlandtrend" der ARD zufolge durch Steuern und Sozialabgaben zu stark belastet. Unter den Befragten im erwerbsfähigen Alter ist der Anteil noch höher.

Overview

  • The ARD Deutschlandtrend poll, conducted Monday and Tuesday, shows the Union at 26%, the AfD at 25%, and the SPD at 12%, which is the Social Democrats’ weakest score since 2019.
  • Only 15% say they are satisfied with the federal government’s work, down 10 points from early March, and Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s approval stands at 21% after an eight-point drop.
  • Lars Klingbeil falls to 18% approval and Bärbel Bas to 15%, reflecting a broader slide in ratings for senior figures across the coalition and opposition.
  • Two-thirds of respondents feel taxes and social contributions are too high, rising to 72% among working-age people, with sharp splits by party as 87% of AfD backers say the burden is excessive and most Green supporters call it adequate.
  • Large majorities endorse tax shifts that raise rates on higher incomes and cut them for low and middle incomes (76%) and support higher taxes on alcohol, tobacco, and soft drinks (72%), with the survey of 1,316 adults carried out by phone and online and described as a snapshot, not a forecast.