Federal Government's 100-Day Review - Ipsos Poll Reveals - Women and Low-Income Individuals Express More Doubt Towards Merz
In the heart of Paris, research-led market and social research firm Ipsos was founded in 1975 and continues to thrive. Listed on the Euronext in Paris since 1999, Ipsos is a key player in the SBF 120 and Mid-60 Index, with an ISIN code of FR0000073298 and ticker symbols ISOS.PA on Reuters and IPS:FP on Bloomberg. Ipsos boasts a global presence, employing over 20,000 people across 90 countries, including more than 500 employees in Germany, spread across five locations: Hamburg, Berlin, Munich, Frankfurt, and Nuremberg.
Recently, Ipsos conducted a survey focusing on the performance of Chancellor Friedrich Merz's black-red federal government, which will reach its 100-day mark this week. The survey, conducted online from August 1 to 3, 2025, included a sample size of 1,000 eligible voters in Germany.
The poll results show a mixed response to Merz's leadership. Overall, only 23% of Germans are optimistic about Merz's performance, with a substantial 53% expressing pessimism. About one in five (21%) are undecided.
When breaking down the data by political party, the survey reveals a significant drop in Merz's approval rating among supporters of the ruling coalition (CDU/CSU and SPD). Among SPD voters, about a third (32%) are optimistic, another third disagree (34%), and a third are undecided (33%). In contrast, two-thirds (67%) of Union supporters are optimistic, but this number represents a decline from previous levels.
Interestingly, the survey also found that more women than men express skepticism towards Merz's leadership (55% of women compared to 50% of men). Additionally, two-thirds (67%) of respondents with low formal education are not confident in Merz's leadership. On the other hand, among the highly educated, 32% are optimistic about Merz's leadership, compared to 15% of those with low education.
Among the far-right AfD, BSW, and Left voters, about four in five (81%, 78%, and 78%, respectively) do not believe Merz is making the right decisions.
Ipsos offers a wide range of research and analysis solutions, consolidated into 14 service lines. Their work provides deep insights into actions, opinions, and motivations, offering a true understanding of society, markets, and people. For more information, visit Ipsos's German website at www.ipsos.de, where polls and opinion surveys can be found.
As Merz's black-red federal government enters its 100th day, the Ipsos poll reveals a drop in approval ratings compared to June 2025, with a current rating of 29%. The ruling coalition combined support is 37%, with the far-right AfD leading at 26% and CDU/CSU at 24%. These trends suggest a waning public confidence in the coalition and Merz’s leadership. However, more granular demographic data, such as approval by party affiliation, gender, or income, was not available in the given sources. If such data is needed, additional specialized polling sources or future detailed polls would be required.
Ipsos, the research-led market and social research firm, recently conducted a survey on the performance of Chancellor Friedrich Merz's black-red federal government, revealing a drop in approval ratings. The policy-and-legislation aspect of politics seems to have generated mixed responses, with only 23% of Germans being optimistic about Merz's performance. This general-news story indicates a potential shift in political dynamics in Germany. For more detailed insight, one might consider other polling sources or future polls provided by Ipsos or other research firms.
