Q-and-A:

 1.  Is there anyway to really define 'far-left/far-right'?

No.

When one party says a platform goal is free-bus/rail travel....it really doesn't suggest far-left/far-right.  If you had a migration issue....saying deportation is necessary....it also doesn't suggest far-left/far-right.  

The German news media have played with the definition a good bit, and I'd say at this point....most folks can't conclude any definition worth talking about.

2.  Merz going away?

There are five state elections in 2027....most occur in April.  By the time you get to Niedersachsen in September....if the CDU has performed in a crappy fashion for the five....I might see some meeting where a discussion comes up (for both the SPD and CDU).....if the coalition can continue, or a fresh new election should occur.

2028 elections?  Presently....three coming (2 in the fall, one in the spring)....they will matter a good bit.

3.  The economy still problem one?

I'd go and suggest the economy and jobs rate as the top problem....with public safety and migration issues fitting into the top five issues facing the country.  Neither the SPD or CDU/CSU....seem to have any true fix for the economic issue.

4.  SPD overcome by the Greens?

That is a odd landscape....if you added up the Linke-SPD-Green voters....they make up around 38-to-40 percent of the nation presently.

5.  Is there crime-clan warfare going on in Germany?

Not on front-page news....but if you glance through newspapers weekly....various clans are in competition with each other, and hit-jobs are being conducted.  Police are more or less....simply watching the development unfold.

I asked AI to review data....how many crime families exist at the national level (across states).....total of 36 noted.

6.  Is there any indication that the CDU or SPD have reviewed the 'get-elected' strategy of the AfD Party?

Well....no.  If either had the 'get-elected' strategy in their mind....they would have overcome this voting trend.  

At some point....Merkel saw the gimmick, and countered AfD....by agreeing to hire 10,000 MORE state/federal police (over a 3 year period).  That briefly gave the SPD and CDU folks 'time'. It's been 7 years since that idea.