Friedrich Merz’s approval rating falls to a historic 10 percent low
Only 10 percent were satisfied with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s work in an ARD poll released on 1 October, the lowest chancellor rating in the series since 1997. The survey follows state-election setbacks for his Christian Democratic Union. Merz governs federally with the Social Democrats, while the coalition disagrees over reforms to pensions, healthcare and other social-insurance arrangements.
Geopolitics··Evening
Satisfaction hits the series’ lowest chancellor rating
Satisfaction with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s work fell to 10 percent in the ARD Deutschlandtrend poll. The survey recorded the lowest satisfaction rating for a chancellor since the polling series began in 1997.[1], [2]
Released on 1 October, the poll followed state-election losses for Merz’s Christian Democratic Union (CDU). At federal level, Merz heads a coalition government with the Social Democrats. The survey measures satisfaction with his performance separately from the results of the state contests.[1]
CDU loses ground in state elections
In Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, a German state, the CDU failed to pass the 5 percent threshold on 20 September. The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD), took more than a third of the vote. The Left won Berlin with 25.7 percent, followed by the CDU. In Saxony-Anhalt, another German state, the AfD exceeded 40 percent while the CDU took 17 percent.[1]
Federal majority governs a chancellor’s removal
Germany’s constitutional rules require parliament to elect a successor by an absolute majority when removing a chancellor through a no-confidence vote. The government continues to pursue social-insurance and healthcare changes. Its July reform programme contained 34 measures, including pensions, care costs and tax reductions, while coalition partners disagree over their scope.[1]
