The man likely to lead Germany's next government says there would be no cooperation with the far-right AfD. Friedrich Merz's conservative CDU/CSU bloc has faced flak after accepting AfD support on legislation.

Support for Germany's conservative CDU/CSU alliance has dropped to 28% ahead of elections on February 23, a poll showed on Tuesday, days after it cooperated with the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) to pass a motion in parliament.

Over the weekend, tens of thousands of people took to the streets across Germany to protest against the CDU and AfD.

Germany's conservative chancellor candidate Friedrich Merz explicitly distanced himself and his party from the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) in an interview with DW.

The far-right party is walking in the steps of the MAGA movement by courting support in depressed, diverse industrial towns once dominated by the left.