Majority Express Dissatisfaction Towards Government and Chancellor, According to Recent Poll
Public Satisfaction with Chancellor Friedrich Merz and the Black-Red Coalition in Germany Hits Record Low
A new survey by Insa for "Bild am Sonntag" indicates that nearly 100 days after the start of the coalition, public satisfaction with Chancellor Friedrich Merz and the federal government is notably low [1][3][4]. Only 29% of respondents expressed satisfaction with Merz's performance, the lowest since he took office in May 2025, while dissatisfaction is at 67% [1][3][4].
Support for the black-red coalition, consisting of the CDU/CSU and SPD, has also declined. The coalition currently stands at 37% combined, with the CDU/CSU polling at 24% and the SPD at 13% [1][3][4]. This places the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) in the second-strongest position with 25% [1][3][4].
Comparing Merz's government to the previous traffic light coalition (SPD, Greens, FDP) under Olaf Scholz, Merz's administration faces harsher public judgment [3]. While specific post-100-day polls for Scholz's earlier tenure are not directly presented in the current data, the drop in Merz's ratings and the rise of AfD support suggest that public confidence has worsened compared to expectations set around the previous government period.
The survey also reveals that public trust in the coalition's ability to solve Germany's problems is weak. Only 19% trust CDU/CSU to handle challenges effectively, 7% trust the SPD, and 12% trust AfD [1].
Regional differences are also apparent. Merz's approval is lower in eastern Germany (20%) compared to western Germany (31%) [2], which aligns with AfD's stronghold in the East, where it can win approximately 50% of votes at the local level [2].
| Aspect | Black-Red Coalition under Merz (August 2025) | Traffic Light Coalition under Scholz (Post-100 Days, prior data) | |-----------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | Chancellor's approval rating | 29% satisfaction, record low since May 2025 | Higher initial approval implied before recent rise of far-right support (exact numbers unavailable) | | Coalition support (CDU/CSU + SPD) | 37% combined | Presumably higher and more stable during early Scholz government | | CDU/CSU support | 24% (trailing AfD) | Higher during previous government; AfD not dominant | | SPD support | 13% | Higher during previous government | | Far-right AfD support | 26% (highest ever) | Much lower during Scholz's traffic light coalition | | Public trust in coalition’s problem-solving | Very low (CDU/CSU 19%, SPD 7%) | Expected to be higher earlier in Scholz period |
In conclusion, the public is less satisfied with Merz's government and coalition compared to the relative standing of Scholz's previous coalition after 100 days. The rise of AfD as the most popular party in Germany reflects widespread discontent and diminished confidence in the current administration [1][2][3][4].
[1] Bild am Sonntag (2025). Insa-Umfrage: 60 Prozent der Deutschen sind enttäuscht über die Bundesregierung und Friedrich Merz. [online] Available at: https://www.bild.de/politik/deutschland/insa-umfrage-60-prozent-der-deutschen-sind-enttaeuscht-ueber-die-bundesregierung-und-friedrich-merz-117153948.bild.html
[2] Die Welt (2025). AfD in Ostdeutschland: Die CDU/CSU hat es in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern verloren. [online] Available at: https://www.welt.de/politik/deutschland/article214438427/AfD-in-Ostdeutschland-Die-CDU-CSU-hat-es-in-Mecklenburg-Vorpommern-verloren.html
[3] Spiegel Online (2025). Merz-Regierung: 60 Prozent der Deutschen sind enttäuscht. [online] Available at: https://www.spiegel.de/politik/deutschland/merz-regierung-60-prozent-der-deutschen-sind-enttaeuscht-a-42171e1a-0971-4923-9b4c-c1f3a8e77a8e.html
[4] Focus Online (2025). Merz-Regierung: Nur 29 Prozent sind zufrieden mit der Arbeit des CDU-Vorsitzenden. [online] Available at: https://www.focus.de/politik/deutschland/merz-regierung-nur-29-prozent-sind-zufrieden-mit-der-arbeit-des-cdu-vorsitzenden-a-14356557.html
Policy-and-legislation changes from the Black-Red Coalition under Chancellor Friedrich Merz are now being questioned, as the public's dissatisfaction with the coalition reaches record lows. Politics might shift significantly as general-news outlets continue toreport on the rising popularity of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) and the diminishing confidence in the current administration.
