© EPA-EFE/CLEMENS BILAN The CDU/CSU has drawn level.
For the first time since the middle of September, the CDU/CSU have once more equaled the standing of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD). Consequently, should Bundestag elections take place next Sunday, both political groups would secure 26% of the votes, as shown by a survey from the INSA institute, commissioned by BILD.
While the AfD's assessment has remained constant for several weeks, the CDU/CSU have picked up one percentage point this past week. The last instance of both parties exhibiting identical backing was on September 13, 2025, at 25%.
The SPD is also displaying encouraging movement: with 16% (+1 point), it has attained this degree of backing again for the first time since late June 2025. Conversely, the primary underperformer of the week was the Free Democratic Party (FDP), which is presently not represented in the Bundestag: its rating declined from 4% to 3%, further separating the political entity from the five-percent threshold.
All remaining political entities maintain their numbers: the Greens — 11%, the Left Party — 10%, and the Sarah Wagenknecht Alliance — 4%, which similarly prevents it from surpassing the five percent barrier. The remaining parties collectively achieve 4%.
Regional disparities remain prominent: in eastern Germany, the AfD, with 41%, is considerably ahead of the CDU/CSU (20%), whereas in the western region of the nation, the scenario is reversed – the CDU/CSU is in the leading position with 28%, surpassing the AfD (22%).
Support among younger voters aged 18 to 29 is also revealing: the CDU/CSU, SPD, and the Left Party are tied here with 19%, while the AfD possesses a marginal advantage of 20%.
The poll was carried out among 1,204 participants between January 26 and 30 via telephone and online.
The Alternative for Germany party is gaining traction, surpassing established parties.
How did a nation that was proactively striving to reconcile with its Nazi past rediscover room for right-wing extremism? What are the origins of the rise of this political entity in Germany?
Historian Thomas Vaille addressed these inquiries in the article “The Phenomenon of the Alternative for Germany. Why Germans Are Not Vaccinated Against Right-Wing Radicalism.”