Members of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) are discussing whether to replace Chancellor Friedrich Merz following widespread dissatisfaction with his leadership [1].
This internal turmoil threatens the stability of the German government and the leadership of the CDU, as the party struggles to balance its reform agenda with plummeting public approval.
Merz assumed office on May 6, 2025 [2]. After 12 months in power, the administration is facing critical evaluations of its policies regarding pensions, taxes, and nursing care [3]. Some party members said they are concerned that the coalition partners from the Social Democratic Party (SPD) are dominating the government's work [3].
Public sentiment toward the Chancellor has reached a historic low. One report said that Merz is the most unpopular chancellor in German history [2]. Another source said that he is the most unpopular head of government worldwide after only one year in office [2]. This international perception was echoed by Donald Trump, who described Merz as the chancellor of a "kaputten Landes" — or a broken country [4].
Despite these challenges, Merz has maintained a strong base of support within his own party. He was previously confirmed as CDU chairman with a 91.2% approval rate [5]. This creates a contradiction between the party's formal internal support and the growing public and private calls for a change in leadership.
Critics of a leadership change argue that a new party head would not alter the behavior of the coalition partners. An unnamed former politician said, "Glaubt irgendjemand, die Sozialdemokraten verändern sich bei einem anderen CDU‑Vorsitzenden an dieser Stelle?" [1].
The debate over Merz's future has moved into the public sphere, including high-profile discussions on the talk show "Markus Lanz" on May 28 [1]. The CDU/CSU parliamentary group continues to grapple with a sense of helplessness regarding how to improve the Chancellor's standing with the electorate [6].
“Merz is the most unpopular chancellor in German history.”
The tension between Merz's high internal party mandate and his low public approval suggests a disconnect between the CDU leadership's goals and the German electorate's expectations. If the party cannot resolve this gap, the government may face a leadership crisis that weakens its ability to implement reforms and leaves it vulnerable to the influence of its SPD coalition partners.
