Support for Germany's far-right AfD reaches six-month low after protests

In a recent poll, support for the Alternative for Germany (AfD) fell below 20% for the first time since July in the wake of nationwide protests against the German far-right party. According to the Forsa poll, the AfD’s support dropped by one percentage point to 19%, putting them in second place behind the main opposition conservatives, who polled at 32%. Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s centre-left Social Democrats came in third at 15%.

The poll revealed that ongoing mass demonstrations against the far-right were the key issue for German voters.

Mass protests against the AfD have been gaining momentum after news reports surfaced indicating that two senior party members had joined a meeting discussing plans for the mass deportation of citizens of foreign origin. The AfD has denied that the proposal represented party policy.

Furthermore, German companies and their CEOs have also raised concerns about the threat of right-wing extremism to the country’s economy. Hildegard Mueller, president of the German auto association VDA, emphasized the importance of standing up for values and taking responsibility, indicating that the popularity of a party like the AfD would damage Germany’s reputation as an export nation.

The AfD, which was founded 11 years ago, has seen a surge in popularity in all three eastern German states holding elections this year.

(Reporting by Sarah Marsh and Victoria Waldersee, Writing by Nette Nöstlinger)