AfD’s lead over the Union shrinks as poll shows tighter race

The ZDF “Politbarometer” released by the Forschungsgruppe Wahlen indicates that the AfD’s support dropped by two points, while the Union’s rose, compressing the lead the AfD once held. The SPD improved by one point, overtaking the Greens, which lost ground, and the Linke fell by one point. The FDP’s share stayed unchanged, keeping it below the five-percent hurdle.

Smaller parties together account for a notable share of the vote. Alternative polls from Allensbach and a Verian survey for Focus show different margins between the AfD and the Union. Additionally, a majority of Germans view the unrest in France as a significant problem for the EU, especially among Linke supporters.