German election 2025: Who’s ahead in the polls?

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Germany’s political scene is witnessing a shift as support for the governing “traffic light” coalition wanes, further exacerbated after the collapse of the alliance between Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s Social Democrats (SPD), the Greens, and the pro-business Free Democrats (FDP).

Meanwhile, the centre-right Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and its Bavarian sister party, the Christian Social Union (CSU), have remained on top in the polls, as the far-right populist Alternative for Germany (AfD) remains the country’s second largest opposition.

Chancellor Scholz’s SPD is trailing well behind the main opposition party, led by Friedrich Merz, in voter support.

Vice Chancellor Robert Habeck of the Greens has entered the race for the chancellorship, but his party has continued to lag in support following the demise of the three-party coalition.

The far-right AfD, which has consistently gained traction, has nominated Alice Weidel as its candidate for chancellor.

However, the party remains politically isolated, as mainstream parties continue to refuse any coalition with it.

On the left, the newly-formed BSW, led by Sahra Wagenknecht, has tapped into populist discontent, further diversifying Germany’s political options.

As the next election approaches, polls suggest a fragmented landscape, with no single party nearing an absolute majority.

The outcome will likely lead to weeks of negotiations to forge a workable coalition, a hallmark of German politics.

Polling suggests the CDU/CSU is best positioned to form a majority coalition, needing support from either the Greens or the SPD, as the current three-party coalition is unlikely to be renewed with the FDP polling below the 5% threshold for entering the Bundestag.

The country’s proportional electoral system provides a reliable glimpse into the potential makeup of the government after the election.

Stay updated with our live polling data.