Commission Requests Proposal for Worker Radiation Protection Directive
As of August 2025, Chancellor Friedrich Merz's public approval rating stands at a record low of about 29%, reflecting dissatisfaction by approximately 67% of respondents across Germany. This marks a decline from earlier months when his rating was higher (e.g., 43% in June). His approval is notably lower in eastern Germany (20%) compared to the west (31%).
Regarding the black-red coalition (the governing alliance of Merz’s CDU/CSU and the Social Democratic Party, SPD), combined public support has dropped to about 37%. Within this coalition, the CDU/CSU’s popularity has fallen to around 24%, making it now less popular than the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD), which polls at 26%. The SPD holds steady at approximately 13% but remains the junior partner with less public confidence.
Public trust in the government's ability to effectively address Germany's major challenges is also low: only 19% believe the CDU/CSU can handle the country’s problems effectively, with the SPD trusted by 7%, and the AfD at 12%—showing relative erosion of confidence in the ruling coalition.
Despite these low approval rates, just over half of Germans (about 52%) expect the current black-red coalition to remain in power until the end of the legislative period in 2029, though concerns about the coalition’s viability persist due to rising dissatisfaction and increased support for the AfD in some regions, particularly in former East Germany where AfD support can reach close to 50%.
According to the current Sunday trend reported by Bild am Sonntag, black-red would not currently have a majority in government. The Union and SPD would remain at 27% and 15% respectively, but the exact satisfaction or dissatisfaction levels of citizens or specific political leaders are not specified in this poll.
Here's a summary of the current political landscape in Germany:
| Subject | Approval/Support Rate | |-----------------------------------|----------------------| | Chancellor Friedrich Merz | ~29% approval | | CDU/CSU (Merz's party bloc) | ~24% support | | SPD (coalition partner) | ~13% support | | Combined black-red coalition (CDU/CSU + SPD) | ~37% support | | AfD (far-right opposition party) | ~26% support | | Public belief in CDU/CSU handling problems | 19% |
This data comes primarily from recent polls conducted by the Forsa Institute for RTL/ntv and reflects the political climate in early August 2025, as well as the Sunday trend reported by Bild am Sonntag. The poll results are subject to uncertainties and only reflect the opinion climate at the time of the survey.
The policy-and-legislation enacted by the black-red coalition, comprising of Merz’s CDU/CSU and the Social Democratic Party (SPD), is being met with lower public support, as the combined approval for the coalition stands at around 37%. The politics of this administration are also experiencing a decline in public trust, with Merz's personal approval rating at a record low of about 29%. This general news has raised concerns about the coalition’s viability, despite about 52% of Germans expecting the black-red coalition to remain in power until the legislative period in 2029.
