Alternative for Germany (AfD) Surges to Historic High in Polls Amid Establishment Backlash
Despite sustained efforts by political opponents, the media, and government-linked agencies to discredit or dismantle the Alternative for Germany (AfD), the party has reached a record level of public support, according to a new INSA poll released Tuesday.
Polling at 23.5%, the AfD is now only 3.5 points behind the CDU/CSU bloc, marking its highest support ever recorded by INSA. The result signals growing momentum for the AfD and reflects rising dissatisfaction with the country’s political establishment.
“This is the highest value ever measured for the AfD in the INSA opinion trend,” said Hermann Binkert, head of the INSA polling institute, to Bild newspaper.
Public Frustration with Legacy Parties Fuels AfD’s Rise
Voter frustration is mounting across Germany, especially around issues of mass migration, economic decline, and broken campaign promises by legacy parties. A separate INSA poll revealed that 73% of all voters and 44% of CDU/CSU supporters feel deceived by CDU leader Friedrich Merz, particularly over unmet promises on immigration controls and debt management.
The AfD’s recent gains represent a broader shift among the electorate, one that challenges the political dominance of the so-called “old parties” — the CDU/CSU, SPD, Greens, FDP, and The Left.
Parallels with U.S. Political Dynamics
The current surge in support for the AfD mirrors political trends seen in the United States, particularly during Donald Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign. As with Trump, attempts to discredit or eliminate the AfD have appeared to galvanize public support rather than diminish it.
Like Trump, the AfD has been the target of relentless media attacks and systemic exclusion from mainstream political discourse. German media—state-funded and corporate alike—have portrayed the AfD as extremist, denying its leaders fair opportunities to communicate their positions to voters.
Political Isolation and Institutional Suppression
Germany’s major parties have formed a unified front against the AfD, establishing what they call a Brandmauer (“firewall”) to prevent any form of cooperation with the party, effectively sidelining millions of AfD voters. This political ostracization has been coupled with direct actions against right-leaning media and affiliated organizations.
Federal Interior Minister Nancy Faeser, a member of the Social Democrats (SPD), has led the charge against dissenting voices. Known for her far-left affiliations—including contributions to an Antifa-aligned publication—Faeser ordered raids against Compact, a right-wing news outlet. The move was later ruled illegal by Germany’s top court, but the message was clear: opposition to the ruling establishment will be met with force.
Intelligence Agencies Target AfD
Germany’s domestic intelligence services have played an increasingly visible role in political matters, particularly in labeling AfD-affiliated organizations as “right-wing extremist.” In some cases, entire regional branches of the AfD have been placed under surveillance, a move critics argue amounts to election interference.
The head of the Thuringian intelligence agency, Stephan Kramer, took the rhetoric further, labeling AfD supporters as “brown filth”—a historical reference to Nazi brownshirts—and claiming that one-fifth of Germans fall into this category.
“We’re at about 20 percent brown filth in the Federal Republic,” Kramer told NDR Info after a significant AfD electoral win in the Sonnenberg district.
A Party Under Siege—But Rising
Despite intense pressure, legal challenges, media exclusion, and direct condemnation from both leftist and center-right establishments, the AfD continues to gain ground.
The growing support reflects a significant political realignment in Germany, where more citizens are turning away from globalist platforms and seeking parties that prioritize national sovereignty, economic reform, and stricter immigration controls.
If the trend continues, Germany could be headed for a seismic shift in its political landscape, with the AfD playing an increasingly central—and unavoidable—role in the country’s future.
