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In a recent survey conducted by the Forsa Institute, it was revealed that German Chancellor Friedrich Merz's government is facing mixed assessments from the population, with a majority expressing dissatisfaction[1]. The survey, which was conducted between July 11 and 14, interviewed 2,192 eligible voters in Berlin, Germany.
The survey indicated that only 38% of Germans are satisfied with the performance of the federal government, while a majority—58%—express dissatisfaction[1]. This satisfaction rate is notably low, especially compared to Merz’s earlier approval ratings, which had reached 42% but subsequently dropped by seven points in a single week[1].
Chancellor Merz’s personal approval rating has also declined: only 35% view his performance favourably, while 59% now view it unfavourably[1]. These figures are the lowest since Merz took office at the end of May 2025.
Notably, 65% of respondents believe the government is not addressing the country’s most pressing issues, and a similar proportion criticise the government for not lowering the electricity tax[1]. These results suggest that Merz’s self-assessment as one of the best federal governments in decades is, at best, only shared by a minority of Germans, with a strong majority expressing dissatisfaction or outright disagreement.
The potential for the new government to keep the AfD at a distance in the long run is a matter of debate. According to the survey, 31% believe the Union will be ahead, 26% expect equality, and 26% predict the AfD will be ahead by the end of Merz's term[1].
Among Union supporters, satisfaction with the situation in the country is greater, with 54% seeing an improvement, 11% a deterioration, and 28% no change[1]. However, even among CDU and CSU supporters, Merz's praise that this is one of the best governments in decades is not universally shared, with 44% agreeing (rather), and 41% not agreeing (rather)[1].
The survey did not provide specific data on the population's current assessment of Friedrich Merz or the CDU party, or on the population's perception of change in Germany since Merz took office. It also did not provide specific data on the population's support for Merz's statement that this is one of the best federal governments in recent decades, or on the agreement level among CDU and CSU supporters with Merz's statement.
The electricity tax reduction, which initially applies only to certain companies, agriculture, and excludes private households, was found to be ununderstandable by 69% of respondents, while 23% found it understandable[1].
In summary, the survey results indicate that a significant proportion of Germans are dissatisfied with Merz's government, with only 38% expressing satisfaction. The survey also suggests that Merz's self-assessment as one of the best federal governments in decades is not widely shared among the population, and that the potential for the new government to keep the AfD at a distance in the long run is a matter of debate. The survey did not provide specific data on several key aspects of the population's assessments of Merz and his government.
- The mixed assessments of German Chancellor Friedrich Merz's government extend to various policies, with 58% expressing dissatisfaction not only with the federal government's overall performance, but also with specific policies such as the employment and community policies, as per the Forsa Institute's survey.
- The political landscape in Germany, as indicated by the survey, also revealed that a large portion of the population is critical of the government's pursue in policy-and-legislation matters, particularly in relation to the general news and current issues, such as the electricity tax and its distribution. This indicates a potential need for reform in various policy areas, as well as a growing dissatisfaction with the status quo in politics.
