The AfD is now tied for second place in the country, which has prompted a near meltdown of the country’s political and journalistic class.
The Alternative for Germany (AfD) continues its steady march higher in the polls, now reaching an all-time high of 19 percent in the latest INSA poll conducted for the Bild newspaper.
The results have sent yet another “shockwave” through the political and media establishment, with politicians from both the left and the moderate Christian Democrats (CDU/CSU) fiercely debating what is behind the rise of the AfD. The party is known for its strict anti-immigration stance, opposition to sanctions on Russia as well as German weapons being sent to Ukraine, and criticism of green energy policies being promoted by the left-liberal ruling government.
However, the term “shock” being used to describe the party’s rise in the polls is being rejected by the AfD’s Bundestag faction leader, Alice Weidel.
“Every three days, the Bild has to announce an ‘AfD survey shock.’ That’s not a shock, that’s called democracy. And it shows that people have finally had enough of paternalism, cost increases and asylum chaos. Germany needs new elections!” wrote Weidel.
Sonntagsfrage zur Bundestagswahl • INSA/BamS: CDU/CSU 27 % | SPD 19 % | AfD 19 % | GRÜNE 13 % | FDP 9 % | DIE LINKE 5 % | Sonstige 8 %
— Wahlrecht.de (@Wahlrecht_de) June 3, 2023
➤ Übersicht: https://t.co/MO5RyMFkPu
➤ Verlauf: https://t.co/mJRVJUWFRX pic.twitter.com/6LaKGugcSF