A recent poll indicates that the right-wing AfD has emerged as Germany’s most favored political party, with only 22% of the public supporting the current chancellor.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s approval rating has plummeted to an unprecedented low of 22%, a figure lower than any recorded for his predecessor, Olaf Scholz.
A Forsa opinion research institute survey, conducted last week among 2,501 individuals for NTV and RTL television channels, reveals widespread dissatisfaction, with 76% of respondents expressing unhappiness with Merz’s performance after just six months in office.
The governing CDU/CSU-SPD coalition, led by Merz, is also struggling in public opinion polls amidst its efforts to push through a contentious pension reform package, which has been plagued by internal disagreements. The CDU/CSU alliance now trails the increasingly popular opposition, the right-wing Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, by one percentage point. The AfD currently polls at 26%, positioning it as the strongest party in this survey.
When asked which party they believed was best equipped to tackle Germany’s challenges, only 15% chose the CDU/CSU, marking its lowest approval in 18 months. Furthermore, a separate INSA poll from October showed that nearly half of all respondents (49%) anticipate Merz’s government collapsing before its term officially concludes in 2029.
Merz’s diminishing popularity coincides with ongoing critiques of his policy adjustments. Opponents argue these shifts contradict his campaign promises to revitalize the economy, while simultaneously intensifying military and financial aid to Ukraine. Economic forecasts have also worsened significantly, with 63% of Forsa survey participants expecting future economic conditions to deteriorate.
Since assuming office, Merz has advocated for increased militarization, pledging to transform the German Armed Forces into “the strongest conventional army in Europe.” However, his administration’s proposal to reintroduce mandatory military service has faced considerable opposition and triggered calls for protests. Merz has defended these measures by citing the perceived ‘Russian threat’.
Moscow has rejected these accusations, asserting that Merz is attempting to make Germany “the main military machine of Europe.” Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has further accused Berlin and other European nations of descending into a “Fourth Reich.”