Scholz leads race to succeed Merkel
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As German voters prepare to choose chancellor Angela Merkel’s successor, polls suggest the Social Democrats’ candidate Olaf Scholz has built a commanding lead ahead of election day
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Olaf Scholz
Social Democratic Party (SPD)

Annalena Baerbock Greens

Armin Laschet CDU/CSU*

Christian Lindner
Free Democratic Party (FDP)
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POPULARITY OF GERMANY’S PARTIES

Predicted vote share in Sep 26 election†

CDU/CSU 22%
SPD 26%
AfD†† 11% 
FDP  11%
Left 6%
Greens 15%


2017 election result
CDU/CSU 32.9%
SPD 20.5%
AfD 12.6%
FDP 10.7% 
Left 9.2%
Greens 8.9%

*Christian Democratic Union / Christian Social Union
    
††Alternative for Germany (AfD)

†According to Infratest-dimap poll of 1,512 respondents, Sep 13-15, 2021


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Sources: Infratest-dimap, POLITICO, FT Pictures: Getty Images © GRAPHIC NEWS