The Alternative for Germany (AfD) remains the main winner of the polls, as it has consolidated in second place and with percentages above 20%. At the same time, almost one in two Germans are in favor of banning the party – including 10% of its own voters.

According to a TrendBarometer poll on behalf of the private news stations RTL/n-tv, the Christian Union (CDU/CSU) remains at 25%, followed by the AfD, stable at 21%. The Social Democratic Party (SPD) remains at 17%, as do the Greens at 15%. The Liberals (FDP) improve their performance by one point and reach 7%, while the Left respectively loses one point and is at 4%, below the threshold for entering the Bundestag.

On the question of directly electing the chancellor, Olaf Scholz leads with 21%, compared to 17% for CDU leader Friedrich Merz and 16% for vice chancellor and finance minister Robert Habeck (Greens).

However, as the AfD strengthens in the polls, it seems that the criticism against it also increases. “There are indications that (from the AfD) the guarantee of dignity provided by the Constitution is being called into question for some population groups,” the head of the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution, Thomas Haldenwang, told ARD yesterday. His Service has also put parts of the AfD party organization under surveillance, speaking of “dangerous extremist groups”. At the same time, in a poll by the Forsa Institute on behalf of Stern magazine, 47% of respondents said they would support a possible ban on the AfD – including 10% of citizens who voted for the party in the last election. Accordingly, 47% of respondents opposed such a possibility.

In Bavaria, where state elections are being held on October 8, Prime Minister and leader of the Christian Social Union (CSU) Markus Zender has ruled out a post-election cooperation with the AfD, which according to the latest polls reaches 14%. The CSU, which currently co-governs with the Free Voters, leads the polls with 39% and does not appear to have an absolute majority. In a survey carried out on behalf of Sat 1 Bayern and Antenne Bayern, 44% agree with his stance, 24% would like “some” cooperation, while 26% say they would like any cooperation to be considered on a case-by-case basis.