German Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU/CSU) has seen his approval rating drop to a historic low according to the latest ARD-DeutschlandTrend poll [1].
The decline reflects deepening public frustration with the current administration's handling of the economy and social services. This shift in sentiment suggests a growing vulnerability for the governing coalition as opposition parties gain momentum.
According to the survey conducted by Infratest dimap for ARD, only 16% of respondents said they were satisfied with the performance of the chancellor [1]. Meanwhile, 83% of respondents expressed dissatisfaction, marking a seven percentage point increase in disapproval [1].
Public discontent is largely driven by the government's proposed pension-reform plans and a perceived decline in the national economy [2]. These issues have pushed a significant portion of the electorate toward the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party [2].
In the survey's "Sunday-question," which asks voters who they would support in an immediate election, the AfD currently leads the Union by approximately five points [3]. The CDU/CSU's support in this specific metric has fallen to 23%, the lowest level recorded since January [4].
The poll indicates that a majority of voters are choosing the AfD out of disappointment with the established political order [2]. This trend places Merz in a precarious position as he attempts to navigate economic instability and legislative hurdles.
“Only 16% of respondents said they were satisfied with the performance of the chancellor.”
The collapse in Merz's approval ratings signifies a crisis of confidence in the CDU/CSU's ability to manage Germany's economic transition. With the AfD capitalizing on dissatisfaction over pension reforms, the government faces a shrinking mandate to implement unpopular but necessary structural changes, potentially leading to legislative deadlock or a shift toward more populist policy concessions to stem the loss of voters.
