Germany's AfD Leads Polls as Iran War Pushes Fuel Above €2 a Litre
Updated
Updated · Financial Times · May 14
Germany's AfD Leads Polls as Iran War Pushes Fuel Above €2 a Litre
3 articles · Updated · Financial Times · May 14
AfD has moved ahead of Germany’s ruling Christian Democrats in national opinion polls after attacking the US-led war in Iran.
€2-a-litre fuel and a weaker economy have sharpened voter anger, with expected 2026 growth cut to 0.5% from 1% and Chancellor Friedrich Merz taking much of the blame.
The far-right party has also tapped anti-American sentiment in eastern Germany, where state elections are due in September and its anti-war message has gained particular traction.
Saxony-Anhalt, a state of about 2mn people, could become the first German state won by AfD, giving it a regional premier and a seat in the Bundesrat despite its extremist designation.
How will Germany's political shift, fueled by the Iran war, reshape America's military posture in Europe?
As the Fed embraces unpredictability, how will markets react to a new era of planned 'messier meetings'?
Can the UK's relaxed stablecoin rules challenge the US market dominance established by last year's Genius Act?
Germany’s Political Earthquake: AfD’s 29% Surge, Fuel Price Crisis, and the Future of Europe
Overview
Germany is facing a major political and economic crisis, driven by the Alternative for Germany (AfD)'s unprecedented surge in national polls and a severe fuel price shock. By mid-May 2026, the AfD reached 29% in polls, reflecting growing public dissatisfaction. Despite this, the AfD's political power is still limited because other parties maintain a strict 'Brandmauer' that blocks cooperation with them. At the same time, Germany is struggling with rapidly rising fuel prices, which have increased sharply since the outbreak of war in Iran and the Gulf region. These combined pressures are reshaping Germany's political landscape and fueling public frustration.