Germany's far-right AfD hits 25% in poll, just behind conservatives

The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party has risen to 25% in a survey by polling firm INSA for the first time since mid-May.

The poll, conducted weekly for the Sunday edition of the Bild newspaper, saw a one-point increase in the party's popularity.

Another polling firm, Forsa, also recently placed the anti-immigrant AfD at 25%, while other institutes have it slightly lower.

The AfD continues to vie for top spot in the polls, months after Chancellor Friedrich Merz's conservative bloc won February's parliamentary elections.

Other parties holding steady

In the INSA survey, the other parties held their positions from the previous week.

The Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and its Bavarian sister party, the Christian Social Union (CSU), kept the top position with 27%, while their coalition partner, the Social Democratic Party (SPD), came in at 15%.

Further back were the Greens at 11% and the far-left The Left party at 10%.

The populist Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance (BSW) was polling at 4%, with the pro-business Free Democrats on 3%.

Insa surveyed 1,203 people between July 28 and August 1.