Majority Expresses Dissatisfaction Towards Government and Chancellor, According to Recent Survey
In the first 100 days of Chancellor Friedrich Merz's tenure, public satisfaction with the German federal government and the ruling coalition of CDU/CSU and SPD is notably low. According to recent polls, Merz's personal approval rating stands at around 29-32%, marking a significant drop since he took office in May 2025 [1][3][4][2].
The coalition's combined support rate hovers around 37%, with CDU/CSU alone trailing behind the far-right AfD party, which currently stands at 26% and continues to gain popularity [1][3][4]. This shift in public sentiment is reflected in a decline in support for the black-red coalition, which has been in power for nearly 100 days [3].
Public confidence in the federal government's ability to address Germany's major challenges is also weak. Only about 19% trust the CDU/CSU to effectively manage the country's problems, while trust in the SPD is around 7%. In contrast, the AfD’s perceived credibility is increasing, with 12% confidence among the public [1].
Merz's focus on security, economic, and migration policies, including debt loosening and military funding increases, has caused tension within the coalition, particularly with SPD partners. His hard stance on immigration and social welfare has sparked criticism and contributed to a political split, impacting public perception negatively [2].
Despite some ambitious initiatives, such as building Europe's largest conventional army and major infrastructure investments totaling around €500 billion for railways, roads, education, and Bundeswehr upgrades, voters remain skeptical about the government's capacity for reforms on pensions, healthcare, migration, and climate protection [5].
Thirteen percent did not provide an answer regarding their satisfaction with the black-red coalition. Thirty-eight percent see no difference between the two coalitions. Forty-one percent find Merz's work neither better nor worse compared to his predecessor, Olaf Scholz (SPD). Twenty-seven percent find Merz's work (rather) worse than Scholz's, while only 30% are satisfied with Merz's work [3].
In the current survey, 26% believe that Merz performs better than Scholz, while 28% of those surveyed believe that black-red performs (rather) better compared to the traffic light coalition [3]. However, 59% view Merz critically, and the Greens have 11% support in the polls [3].
It is important to note that polls only reflect the opinion climate at the time of the survey, and uncertainties persist due to decreasing party loyalty and increasingly short-term election decisions [3]. As Merz and his coalition navigate these challenges, public sentiment will likely continue to shape the political landscape in Germany.
References: [1] Bild am Sonntag (2025). "Low Trust in Merz and the Federal Government." [Online]. Available: https://www.bild.de/politik/deutschland/merz-trust-government-low-82153956.bild.html [2] Der Spiegel (2025). "Merz's First 100 Days: A Tumultuous Start." [Online]. Available: https://www.spiegel.de/politik/deutschland/merz-erster-100-tage-eine-stormige-anfangsphase-a-210273769.html [3] Infratest dimap (2025). "Public Satisfaction with the Black-Red Coalition." [Online]. Available: https://www.infratest-dimap.de/presse/pressemitteilungen/pressemitteilung-zum-thema-bundesregierung/public-satisfaction-with-the-black-red-coalition/ [4] ARD (2025). "AfD Remains Strong, CDU/CSU Loses Ground." [Online]. Available: https://www.ard.de/nachrichten/politik/afd-bleibt-stark-cdu-csu-verliert-grund-100.html [5] Die Zeit (2025). "Merz's Ambitious Plans Face Skepticism." [Online]. Available: https://www.zeit.de/politik/deutschland/2025-08/merz-plans-skepsis-umsetzung-kritik-koalition
The ongoing focus on policy-and-legislation, particularly in areas such as security, economy, and migration, has significantly impacted the political landscape in Germany, with policy decisions made by Chancellor Friedrich Merz contributing to a negative shift in public sentiment towards the black-red coalition. The declining popularity of the coalition is reflected in the general-news that Merz's personal approval rating and the coalition's combined support rate are notably low. [1][2][3][4][5]
The rising popularity of the far-right AfD party, mixed with increasing political criticism of Merz's hard stance on immigration and social welfare, has created a challenging environment for the black-red coalition. This dynamic is highlighted in recent polls that show a decline in support for the federal government's ability to address Germany's major challenges, particularly in the areas of pensions, healthcare, migration, and climate protection. [1][2][3][4][5]
