Decline of Germany’s Social Democratic Party

The Social Democratic Party (SPD) in Germany has reached unprecedented lows as voters increasingly shift their support to outsider parties like the Alternative for Germany (AfD), which currently dominates opinion polls.

According to this week’s RTL/NTV political support barometer, the SPD is experiencing its lowest support since the Forsa Institute began its tracking, plummeting to only 11 percent, a drop from 16.4% in the last federal election in 2025.

Despite being a coalition partner with the center-right CDU, the SPD has lost significant ground to left-wing groups. Notably, support for the Greens has risen from 11.6% to 15%, while Die Linke has increased its support from 8.8% to 11% during the same timeframe.

On the other hand, Prime Minister Merz’s Christian Democratic Union (CDU) has seen its approval ratings fall from 28.5% in the previous election to 22% now.

In stark contrast, the AfD is leading at 27%, a notable rise from its 20.8% support in 2025.

The AfD, often labeled as “far-right” by mainstream media, actually enjoys considerable backing from working-class individuals who have historically voted for social democratic parties.

After last year’s elections, exit polls by Infratest-Dimap indicated that 38 percent of voters chose the AfD, while only 12 percent supported the SPD.

This decline in SPD support among the working class is believed to be influenced by the previous government led by Chancellor Olaf Scholz, characterized by record levels of immigration and economic stagnation.

Like the UK’s Labor Party and the US Democratic Party, the SPD has overlooked the concerns of voters opposed to extensive immigration policies. This disconnect became evident when Labor Minister Berber Basu sparked controversy by claiming mass immigration is not just economically necessary but also enriches cultural diversity, rather than leading to a “homogeneous gray” society devoid of foreign influences.

Given this stance, it’s perhaps unsurprising that nearly 80 percent of voters feel the government isn’t effectively tackling the immigration crisis, which has well-documented negative impacts.

Lars Klingbeil, the SPD leader, has seen his approval rating drop from 37% in December to just 28% this week. This decline seems connected to his advocacy for mass immigration as a solution for economic issues.