Germany records lower asylum figures amid rising AfD poll numbers and regional protests

Germany has recorded a significant drop in migration as initial asylum applications fell to 4,311 in July, nearly halving compared to the same period in 2025, according to the Federal Ministry of the Interior. Simultaneously, the latest Deutschlandtrend survey indicates the Alternative for Germany (AfD) has extended its lead over the opposition CDU/CSU alliance, alongside increasing public openness to case-by-case cooperation with the party.

On the domestic front, thousands gathered in Plauen for anti-government demonstrations calling for the federal government's resignation. While organizers registered 10,000 participants, authorities initially refrained from giving exact attendance figures. Meanwhile, in Berlin, regional SPD leader Steffen Krach advocated using police enforcement and creating a rent register to penalize landlords charging excessive rent.

Sources: DW, Der Spiegel, Die Zeit, FAZ, Tagesschau