The Christian Democrats (CDU) and the Alternative for Germany (AfD) have both seen a bump in their polling numbers following the controversial vote in the Bundestag over a new law to limit illegal immigration that saw the “firewall” finally break and the CDU and AfD vote together.
Although the law ultimately failed to pass, voting with the AfD does not appear to have hurt the CDU despite ample criticism from the German political establishment and media. This may have to do with the fact that the vast majority of Germans want reductions in immigration, and due to mass immigration bringing terror and crime threats, they feel less safe than ever, according to the latest polling.
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"This feeling that if I’m in the wrong place at the wrong time, it could cost me my life. This is increasing rapidly in Germany."
"81% of respondents are convinced that Germany has taken in too many refugees." pic.twitter.com/lcbz7LYRJK
— Remix News & Views (@RMXnews) February 5, 2025
The Infratest/Dmap poll on behalf of the ARD-Deutschlnad Trend also had bad news for the FDP and BSW, which are both at 4 percent. This means that both parties would not have enough support to pass the 5 percent hurdle to enter parliament.
The CDU and the AfD would have the strongest majority in parliament, but a coalition between the CDU with SPD or the CDU and the Greens is also possible.
However, the sister party of the CDU, the Christian Socialists (CSU), which is the main party in Bavaria, has ruled out a coalition with the Greens, making such a coalition impossible unless the CSU flips their position.
BUNDESTAGSWAHL | Sonntagsfrage Infratest dimap/ARD
Union: 31% (+1)
AfD: 21% (+1)
SPD: 15%
GRÜNE: 14% (-1)
LINKE: 5%
FDP: 4%
BSW: 4%
Sonstige: 6% (-1)
Änderungen zur letzten Umfrage vom 30. Januar 2025
Verlauf: https://t.co/f9MV7iZ8iJ#btw25 pic.twitter.com/cgeLFHpItN
— Deutschland Wählt (@Wahlen_DE) February 6, 2025
On the other hand, the SPD’s leader, Lars Klingbeil, said that he would not join a coalition with Friedrich Merz if he closed the borders, as Merz was pushing for with his immigration reform law. This means that a CDU and SPD coalition increasingly looks unlikely as well, as CDU voters are expecting harsh action on immigration.
This means that any potential coalition without the AfD will be a hard-fought battle for the CDU. Merz has once again ruled out a coalition with the AfD and has even gone so far as to promise to never vote with the party again.
In the same poll from ARD, 44 percent of voters believe he will maintain the firewall, while another 43 percent said that the CDU could indeed join forces with the AfD after the elections.