Germany's conservative Union has fallen to its weakest level in more than four years in the ARD "Deutschlandtrend" survey. In the poll released on Thursday, the CDU/CSU dropped to just 23 percent,m one percentage point lower than in the early-May edition of the survey and the bloc's poorest showing since January 2022. Approval of the CDU-led federal government has sunk in step, with only 12 percent of respondents satisfied with its work.
The far-right AfD remained out in front, holding steady at 27 percent to keep first place. The Social Democrats (SPD) edged up by a point to 13 percent, while the Greens slipped one point to 14 percent. The Left party held firm at 10 percent. The Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance (BSW) again recorded 3 percent, and the Free Democrats (FDP) were unchanged at 4 percent.
Asked to name the most pressing task for national politics, respondents pointed to the handling of the economy. The issue pushed migration off the top spot as the problem Germans now see as the country's biggest. The economy was named by 27 percent as the most urgent matter for politicians to address.
It was followed by immigration and asylum at 21 percent; social injustice, poverty and the citizen's income benefit at 18 percent; pensions and old-age provision at 12 percent; education, schooling and training at 11 percent; and the environment and climate protection at 10 percent.
Confidence in the state of the German economy was strikingly thin. Just 13 percent of those surveyed rated the economic situation positively, a figure as low as any seen since the euro crisis at the end of the 2000s.
With expenses climbing, reforms to Germany's social insurance systems, the statutory pension scheme, long-term care insurance and health insurance, are currently under debate. Forced to choose, 44 percent of respondents said they would rather see higher contributions, while 28 percent favoured cuts to benefits. A further 28 percent gave no answer or felt unable to judge.
Within the federal cabinet, Defence Minister Boris Pistorius (SPD) again drew the strongest reviews: 54 percent were satisfied with his work, two points down from May. Approval of Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) was stuck at just 16 percent, while 82 percent said they were dissatisfied with him.
Vice-Chancellor and Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil (SPD) held a satisfaction rating of 21 percent, unchanged from the previous month. Labour Minister Bärbel Bas (SPD) remained on 18 percent. North Rhine-Westphalia's state premier Hendrik Wüst (CDU) was viewed favourably by 31 percent.
The survey was carried out by the Infratest dimap institute, which questioned 1,326 eligible voters on 1 and 2 June. The margin of error stands at plus or minus two to three percentage points.
From breaking news to thought-provoking opinion pieces, our newsletter keeps you informed & engaged.
