German anti-euro party now main opposition force: poll

(BERLIN) - Upstart anti-euro party Alternative for Germany has become the biggest opposition force against Chancellor Angela Merkel's government, a poll released Tuesday indicated.

The AfD party, launched early last year, scored 10 percent in the poll by independent opinion research company Forsa, jumping three points from the previous week on the back of successful showings in recent state elections.

Tapping into German frustration over the bankrolling of bailout packages for ailing eurozone states, the party wants Europe's biggest economy to scrap the euro and return to the treasured Deutschmark currency.

Merkel's conservative Christian Union alliance tallied 42 percent -- up one point from last week.

Meanwhile the Social Democrats, partners in her left-right government, slipped two points during the same period to hit 22 percent.

The poll showed the AfD ahead of all of Germany's other opposition parties.

The far-left Linke idled at nine percent, while the ecologist Greens and the pro-business Free Democrats each ceded a point to eight percent and two percent respectively.

The percentage of non-voters and undecideds reached 28 percent, up three points.

Forsa chief Manfred Guellner said the AfD appeared to be building on its momentum after gaining seats in three eastern state parliaments in elections during the last month.

He also noted that it was picking up some support from traditional far-right voters.

The AfD denies trawling for hardline right-wing voters, but flirts with populist ideas on issues such as law and order, immigration and traditional social values.

Merkel has repeatedly ruled out working in government with the party.

The poll was conducted between September 15 and 19 among a representative sample of 2,501 German voters, with a margin of error of 2.5 percent.