Germany’s far-right Alternative for Germany has edged ahead of the governing Christian Democratic Union/Christian Social Union bloc in a nationwide survey by the Forsa Institute. The poll, released on 12 August, puts AfD support at 26%, two percentage points above the CDU/CSU’s 24%, while the Social Democrats and the Greens each trail on 13%. It is the first time the AfD has led a Forsa national poll. The findings arrive around Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s 100th day in office and underline a sharp erosion of confidence in mainstream parties. Merz’s personal approval rating fell to 29%, the lowest since he took office three months ago, and half of respondents said they trust no party to address the country’s challenges. The results intensify pressure on the governing coalition as it grapples with a slowing economy and divisive debates over immigration and fiscal policy.