Germany is set to hold an early election on February 23, with conservative party CDU/CSU leading polls. The incumbent chancellor, Olaf Scholz, believes his center-left Social Democrats will pull ahead, but current poll figures suggest otherwise.
According to a recent ARD Deutschlandtrend poll, the CDU/CSU has increased its lead to 32%, while the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) remains in second place at 21%. The environmentalist Greens and Left Party trail behind, with the Greens currently holding a minority government with the SPD.
One-third of eligible voters remain undecided, with some having changed their party preference or expressed no intention of voting. In a recent survey, only 35% named the CDU/CSU as the preferred party to lead the future government, while 17% favored another SPD-led coalition.
The top candidates for chancellor, Friedrich Merz and Olaf Scholz, have seen significant declines in popularity. The CDU/CSU’s Merz now leads with 34%, ahead of his competitors. A possible governing coalition between the CDU/CSU and either the SPD or Greens has gained support, but a combination with the AfD remains ruled out by the CDU/CSU.
The early election comes after the collapse of the center-left government in November 2024, making it an important test for German politics.
Source: https://www.dw.com/en/german-election-conservative-cdu-csu-leads-polls/a-71607122