AfD also records losses in the “Politbarometer”.

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Anti-AfD signs at a demonstration against right-wing extremism in Cologne

Photo: Federico Gambarini / dpa

According to a survey, the AfD remains the second strongest force in Germany - but is currently losing popularity. In ZDF's "Politbarometer" the party lost three percentage points compared to the previous month and came to 19 percent. In the ARD's "Germany Trend" published on Thursday, the party had also lost three percentage points and also ended up at 19 percent.

In the “Politbarometer” 72 percent said that they believed the AfD posed a threat to our democracy. However, only 41 percent supported a ban on the AfD.

According to the survey, the issue of right-wing extremism has increased significantly in importance and is now in second place among the most important problems in Germany, just behind the issue of migration. 79 percent like the demonstrations against right-wing extremism that have been taking place for several weeks.

38 percent believe that the protests, which are also directed against the AfD, are weakening the party. 39 percent do not expect any major impact and 18 percent assume that the AfD will be strengthened as a result.

SPD improves slightly, Wagenknecht alliance gains

Different trends can be observed among the other parties. According to the survey, the SPD recorded a slight increase of two points to 15 percent, while the CDU/CSU remains the strongest force with 31 percent. The Greens got 13 percent (minus one), which is their worst figure in almost six years.

The FDP is unchanged at four percent, the Left lost another point and is at three percent. In contrast, the Sahra Wagenknecht alliance was able to make clear gains with six percent (plus two).

There is still great dissatisfaction with the federal government. Two thirds say she does a bad job, while only 28 percent think she does a good job. But expectations of a Union-led government are also low. Only 31 percent believe that the CDU/CSU would do better if they were in government. For 50 percent there wouldn't be a big difference, and 15 percent would expect worse work.

For the survey, the Mannheim Elections Research Group interviewed 1,217 randomly selected eligible voters between January 30th and February 1st. The error range is plus/minus three percentage points for a share value of 40 percent and plus/minus two percentage points for a share value of ten percent.

col/AFP