- The CDU/CSU is seeking the Chancellor candidate: Söder increases the margin to Merz
The next (scheduled) federal election is still far off, and therefore, the Union has not yet decided who they will send into the race as their chancellor candidate. If it were up to the population, it would not be CDU** leader Friedrich Merz. According to the latest Germany trend, he is currently only in third place in the hearts of the Germans - behind Bavarian Minister President Markus Söder and the head of government of North Rhine-Westphalia Hendrik Wüst.
27 percent see CDU leader as a good candidate
According to the survey by Infratest dimap, Söder would be a good chancellor candidate from the perspective of 38 percent of those surveyed. That's four percentage points more than at the end of May. Wüst comes in at 36 percent (plus 2), while the CDU chairman Friedrich Merz only gets 27 percent. In the opinion of Union supporters, Söder is even further ahead of Merz and Wüst (both 47 percent).
The next federal election is scheduled to take place on September 28, 2025. Merz and Söder have agreed to make a joint decision on the chancellor candidacy in the fall. The CDU chairman, who is also the leader of the opposition in the Bundestag, is considered the clear favorite, even in Söder's view. Before the last federal election, Söder's chancellor ambitions had weakened the Union.
SPD stagnates at 15 percent
In the polls, CDU/CSU is currently the strongest force. According to Infratest dimap, CDU and CSU have 32 percent, which is one percentage point more than at the beginning of July. AfD reaches 16 percent (minus 1), SPD around Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz 15 percent (plus 1). The Greens lose one percentage point and are currently at their lowest value in the Germany trend since April 2018 at 12 percent.
The alliance of Sahra Wagenknecht comes to 9 percent (plus 1), the FDP has to tremble with 5 percent approval for re-entry into the Bundestag. Currently, 11 percent (-1) fall on all other parties - including the Left.
Polls are not predictions
Polls are always subject to uncertainties and only reflect the opinion climate at the time of the survey. They are not predictions of the election outcome.
Despite the upcoming federal election being scheduled for September 2025, the Union has yet to determine their chancellor candidate, as the popularity of CDU leader Friedrich Merz is only at 27%, placing him third behind Markus Söder and Hendrik Wüst. The next federal election is a significant event, as polls indicate that CDU/CSU remains the strongest force, with 32%, despite the SPD and the Greens also having notable support.
