Coalition's approval sinks to new low after AfD's state election win

Germany's ruling coalition remains deeply unpopular following the AfD's state election victory, with Chancellor Friedrich Merz's approval rating at a dismal 13 percent. The AfD holds its record-high 28 percent in the latest RTL/ntv poll. The survey shows the CDU/CSU at 21 percent, followed by the Greens at 16 percent, the SPD at 12 percent, and the Left at 11 percent. The FDP remains at 4 percent, while the BSW is now separately listed at 3 percent. Only 15 percent of respondents expect economic improvement. Merz's approval is particularly weak in eastern Germany at 7 percent, and 55 percent of voters say no party is competent to handle Germany's problems. The data was collected from 2,502 respondents between September 1 and 7.