GETTY Merkel is trying to gather support for the CDU

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Mrs Merkel is using rash measures to allure voters amid concerns that the AfD will beat her Christian Democrats (CDU) party to become Germany’s first rightwing party for decades to enter parliament. The German leader defended her Government’s immigration policy following dramatic gains by the anti-refugee AfD in regional elections. However, analysts have said that any much-needed boost in the CDU’s support is limited as taxes are not voters’ main concern.

GETTY Merkel's lenient migrant policies have caused a backlash and lost her popularity

It's not as if those who are feeling frustrated, detached or insecure - the people voting AfD - are voting AfD because their tax is high, so I don't think it will be very effective Economist

Germany's finance minister Wolfgang Schaeuble has said that Mrs Merkel's government could cut taxes by around €15billion after next year’s election. A spokeswoman for the finance ministry said: "We are currently in the process of quickly implementing the tax relief that the minister announced in his speech on the budget on Tuesday.”

Angela Merkel in pictures Tue, August 8, 2017 Angela Merkel has served as German Chancellor since 2005 and Leader of the Christian Democratic Union since 2000. We take a look at her political career in pictures. Play slideshow AFP/Getty Images 1 of 83 Angela Merkel through the years

GETTY Over 80 per cent of people in Germany are reported to want Merkel to change her policy on migrants

Mrs Merkel’s open door migrant policy has made her unpopular among many German people inciting people to campaign against the German leader. A survey by TNS Forschung for German magazine Der Spiegel showed that 82 per cent of Germans wanted Mrs Merkel to change her refugee policy, while only 15 per cent think she should stick with it. In a state election on Sunday, the anti-immigrant AfD party beat Mrs Merkel’s Christian Democrats (CDU) into third place, which was blamed because of the Chancellor’s pro-refugee stance.

GETTY Critics claim that taxes are not a priority for voters