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Germany's SPD in freefall as polls hit historic lows amid leadership doubts

A once-dominant force in German politics, the SPD now fights for survival. Can bold reforms—or desperate measures—stop the bleeding before it's too late?

,   and  Administrator
2 min read
The image shows a large building with a lot of windows on the side of it, surrounded by street...
The image shows a large building with a lot of windows on the side of it, surrounded by street poles, street lights, sign boards, motor vehicles on the road, persons standing on the footpath, flags to the poles, grills, trees and a sky with clouds in the background. This building is the Bundestag in Berlin, Germany, which is set to be re-elected.

Germany's SPD in freefall as polls hit historic lows amid leadership doubts

Germany's SPD is facing a deepening crisis as its support plummets to just 13% in the latest polls. A new ZDF survey shows that 75% of Germans—and even 56% of the party's own supporters—doubt co-leaders Bärbel Bas and Lars Klingbeil can turn things around. Despite this, the party has united behind its leadership, pushing for bold reforms to regain ground. The SPD's decline has been sharp. Five years ago, it won 25.7% in the 2021 federal election, but recent national polls now place it at 13-15%. State elections have been even worse, with just 5.5% in Baden-Württemberg and 25.9% in Rhineland-Palatinate—down from 35.7% in 2021. Meanwhile, the CDU/CSU holds steady at 25-26%, while the AfD has surged to 24-26% nationally, climbing higher in eastern states.

The party's struggles stem from its role in the 2021-2025 traffic light coalition, which contributed to losses in the 2025 federal election (16.4%). Voters increasingly see the SPD as out of touch with daily concerns, particularly on cost-of-living issues. State-level failures have worsened the trend, with the AfD gaining ground and the CDU maintaining stability.

In response, Klingbeil and Bas are pushing for a windfall tax on energy firms to fund relief measures. Klingbeil proposed raising the commuter tax allowance to ease fuel costs, while Bas supported his call for a fuel price cap like Luxembourg's. Both leaders insist these steps will address financial pressures on households.

The SPD is also calling for a 'new alliance for labour,' bringing together employers, unions, and academics to work with the government on stabilising the economy. Hubertus Heil urged the party to embrace bolder ideas and reconnect with wider society. Klingbeil, meanwhile, claimed his reform plans have received strong internal backing. The SPD's future now hinges on whether its proposed policies can reverse the downward trend. With national support at historic lows and scepticism high, the party's ability to implement changes—and win back voters—will be tested in the coming months. The next round of elections will show whether its strategy can halt the decline.

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