AfD Surges to 30% in National Polls Amidst Calls for Ban and Protests

The Alternative for Germany (AfD) has achieved a significant milestone, leading national polls at 30%, a notable 12-point advantage over the Christian Democratic Union/Christian Social Union (CDU/CSU), which has plunged to an unprecedented low of 18% according to an Insa survey conducted for 'Bild'. This sharp rise follows recent successes in state elections and has intensified debates about the stability of the current coalition government and the possibility of new elections.

Simultaneously, public and political opposition to the AfD is escalating. In Fürstenwalde, an AfD event on the Day of German Unity drew conflicting attendance reports—police citing 1,500 participants and the party claiming 3,500—while an anti-AfD protest promoting diversity attracted around 500 people. Both gatherings were peaceful, underscoring the divided public sentiment surrounding the party.

Amid this turmoil, renowned entertainer Hape Kerkeling made a prominent appeal for a long-overdue ban procedure against the AfD, emphasizing the state's responsibility to safeguard citizens from right-wing extremism. Speaking from personal experience as a descendant of a Buchenwald concentration camp prisoner, Kerkeling condemned the AfD's trivialization of the Nazi dictatorship and urged swift constitutional scrutiny. His remarks drew sharp criticism from the AfD's Thüringen deputy leader but received broad support and have stirred speculation about Kerkeling as a potential successor to President Frank Walter Steinmeier.

The polling data from 1,202 participants between September 28 and October 2, 2026, also showed the Social Democrats and Greens each at 14%, with the Greens losing ground and the Left Party steady at 10%. Despite the CDU/CSU and SPD's struggles, a coalition among center-left and center-right parties could still form a majority, although the AfD's growing influence and voter dissatisfaction have left Germany's political landscape deeply volatile. Only 15% of voters express approval of CDU leader Friedrich Merz, contrasting sharply with 79% dissatisfaction, highlighting widespread discontent with the government’s direction.