Far-right AfD climbs to second in Berlin poll ahead of state election

The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) has reached second place in a poll in Berlin, months before elections in the German capital.

The INSA poll on Wednesday showed the conservative Christian Democrats (CDU) ahead on 22%, followed by the AfD on 17%. Three left-wing parties were next, with the Social Democrats (SPD) at 16% and both the Greens and The Left on 15%.

Berlin is one of five German states holding elections this year, with voters in the capital set to head to the polls on September 20.

If the polling is accurate, the current city government, led by CDU Mayor Kai Wegner in coalition with the SPD, would likely fail to secure enough seats in the Berlin House of Representatives.

The last ordinary election in Berlin in 2021 had to be repeated in 2023 due to irregularities on voting day. The rearranged vote saw the CDU - the party of German Chancellor Friedrich Merz - surge to 28.2%, with the SPD and Greens achieving 18.4%, The Left 12.2% and the AfD way behind on 9.1%.

During last year's national parliamentary election, however, The Left - a successor to the Socialist Unity Party that once governed East Germany - emerged with the most votes in Berlin.

For the INSA poll, 1,000 people were interviewed between February 17 and 24. The margin of error is around three percentage points.

The first state election of the year is due to be held on Sunday, March 8, in south-western Baden-Württemberg.