AfD leads Merz's bloc by 30 points in eastern Germany

A Forsa poll shows the opposition AfD leading Chancellor Friedrich Merz's CDU/CSU bloc by over 30 points in eastern Germany, with 45% support versus 12%. The ruling bloc would place third there, behind The Left party at 15%. Only 7% of eastern Germans approve of Merz's work, while 91% express dissatisfaction. The survey of 2,502 people was conducted September 1-7, with a margin of error of 2.5 points. The AfD won Saxony-Anhalt's state election with a record 43.8%. Merz's popularity is falling amid economic policy and military spending focus, with CDU national support dropping below 20% in August 2026.