Merz Edges Weidel in Chancellor Bid by a Hair

Alice Weidel, the newly nominated AfD chancellor candidate, would narrowly trail the CDU’s Friedrich Merz in a direct election for the Chancellor, according to a survey by the opinion research institute Insa for the “Bild am Sonntag”. Under all four chancellor candidates, 18% would vote for Weidel, and 21% for Merz. SPD incumbent Olaf Scholz would follow with 15%, and Green Vice-Chancellor Robert Habeck with 14%.

It’s a different story when it’s about voter expectations, though – 44% expect Friedrich Merz to become the new Chancellor after the February 23 re-election, while only 11% believe Olaf Scholz will stay in office. Nine percent expect a chancellorship for Weidel, and five percent a triumph for Habeck.

Insa surveyed a total of 1,002 people from December 5 to 6, 2024.