Germany’s AfD Chancellor Candidate Leads in Popularity

According to a survey conducted on December 18 and 19 by the opinion research institute insa for Bild, chancellor candidate Alice Weidel of the Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) overtook Friedrich Merz of the Christian Democrats as the most popular candidate.

If Germans could vote directly for a chancellor, they would vote:

• Alice Weidel, 24 percent
• Friedrich Merz, 20 percent
• Olaf Scholz (Social Democrats), 15 percent
• Robert Habeck (Greens), 14 percent

Game changer: The survey was conducted just before the attack on a Christmas market in Magdeburg, where an immigrant from Saudi Arabia rammed a car into a celebrating crowd. Many fear that the attack will further strengthen the far right.

Ostracized: Because the AfD is classified as far right, none of the mainstream parties are willing to work with them. This means the more popular the AfD becomes, the harder it will be to form a stable government.

Before this latest survey, the AfD stood in second place with around 20 percent support, while the Christian Democrats led with 32 percent.

There is a big leadership vacuum. Germans know something dramatic must be done, and quickly! You see this in recent election results with the rise of fringe parties like the Alternative für Deutschland. Voters are showing themselves willing to embrace out-of-the-ordinary politics. They are clamoring for a strong leader!
—Gerald Flurry, Trumpet editor in chief, “After Trump’s Victory, Watch Germany”