Support for Merkel slumps to lowest since July 2012

Support for German Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservative alliance has slumped to its lowest level since July 2012 as opposition over her liberal refugee policy grows, a survey showed on Sunday, while a right-wing populist party polled a record high.

According to the poll published by the Bild am Sonntag newspaper, public support for Merkel's Christian Democratic Union and sister party Christian Social Union now stands at just 34 percent, down two percentage points.

The Social Democratic Party - the junior partner in Merkel's left-right grand coalition, has also lost ground, shedding one percentage point to 24 percent, according to the poll of 1,638 people conducted from Jan 21 to Jan 27.