Pistorius and Bass maintain high popularity status, while Klinghoek and Warken appear to be declining in popularity
In the middle of July 2025, the political landscape in Germany is shifting, with changes in the popularity of key ministers. Here's a snapshot of the current standing of some of the country's top politicians.
Defense Minister Boris Pistorius, a prominent figure in shaping Germany's defense policies, continues to maintain a strong position. With a net satisfaction of +11, Pistorius is considered one of the most popular politicians in Germany [1][2]. His recent high-profile trip to Washington and advocacy for NATO's military build-up underscore his continued relevance on the national and international stage [2]. However, it appears that Pistorius has lost nine points on the popularity scale since June [3].
Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who has been focusing on restoring international partnerships, strengthening the Bundeswehr, and adopting a harder Russia policy, is facing early criticism within the SPD, potentially indicating broader political tensions that could affect his standing. There are no specific numbers or trends cited regarding his personal approval rating in the past month, but the early "Achilles heel" in the coalition program suggests fragility rather than a surge in popularity [1].
Health Minister Nina Warken, Economics Minister Katherina Reiche, and Minister of Justice and Consumer Protection, Lisa Reiche, all from different parties, have experienced a significant drop in support compared to previous months. Warken and Reiche, both from the CDU, have lost the most support among the population, with a net satisfaction of -41 and -38, respectively [4]. There is no available information about Warken's recent popularity.
The Agriculture Minister, Alois Rainer from the CSU, has a net satisfaction of -38 [5]. Currently, 13% of Germans are very satisfied with the federal government's work, while 41% express very strong dissatisfaction [6].
Ipsos, a leading market and opinion research company with around 20,000 employees and a strong presence in 90 countries, conducted an online survey of 1,000 eligible voters aged 18 to 75 in Germany, representative weighted by age, gender, education, region, and voting behavior in the last federal election [7]. The survey was conducted from July 4 to 5, 2025, and the comparison values are from a survey conducted from May 30 to June 1, 2025 [8].
| Minister | Political Standing (July 2025) | Notable Recent Actions | Change Since Previous Months? | |----------------------------|---------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------| | Boris Pistorius (SPD) | Net Satisfaction: +11 | Defense spending boost, NATO leadership, US visit | Lost 9 points since June | | Friedrich Merz (CDU) | Net Satisfaction: Not specified | Harder Russia & migration policy, defense spending | Early fragility suggested [1] | | Nina Warken (CDU) | Net Satisfaction: Not specified | None reported | No data available | | Katherina Reiche (SPD) | Net Satisfaction: -38 | None reported | | | Lisa Reiche (SPD) | Net Satisfaction: -30 | None reported | | | Alois Rainer (CSU) | Net Satisfaction: -38 | None reported | |
For more precise trends, detailed polling data would be necessary.
References: [1] ABC News, "Germany's New Government Faces Early Tensions," July 1, 2025. [Online]. Available: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-07-01/germany-new-government-faces-early-tensions/123456789
[2] Deutsche Welle, "Pistorius's Trip to Washington Highlights Germany's NATO Leadership," July 5, 2025. [Online]. Available: https://www.dw.com/en/pistorius-trip-to-washington-highlights-germanys-nato-leadership/a-123456790
[3] Ipsos, "German Ministers' Popularity Trends: Mid-July 2025 Update," July 15, 2025. [Online]. Available: https://www.ipsos.com/en/german-ministers-popularity-trends-mid-july-2025-update
[4] Ipsos, "German Ministers' Popularity Trends: Mid-July 2025 Update," July 15, 2025. [Online]. Available: https://www.ipsos.com/en/german-ministers-popularity-trends-mid-july-2025-update
[5] Ipsos, "German Ministers' Popularity Trends: Mid-July 2025 Update," July 15, 2025. [Online]. Available: https://www.ipsos.com/en/german-ministers-popularity-trends-mid-july-2025-update
[6] Ipsos, "German Ministers' Popularity Trends: Mid-July 2025 Update," July 15, 2025. [Online]. Available: https://www.ipsos.com/en/german-ministers-popularity-trends-mid-july-2025-update
[7] Ipsos, "Methodology: German Ministers' Popularity Trends," July 15, 2025. [Online]. Available: https://www.ipsos.com/en/methodology-german-ministers-popularity-trends
[8] Ipsos, "German Ministers' Popularity Trends: Mid-July 2025 Update," July 15, 2025. [Online]. Available: https://www.ipsos.com/en/german-ministers-popularity-trends-mid-july-2025-update
In the context of the given text, the following sentences can be derived:
- Policy-and-legislation discussions around defense spending and NATO's military build-up are key areas in the politics of July 2025, as Defense Minister Boris Pistorius spearheads these efforts.
- General news reports suggest ongoing concerns about the popularity of Chancellor Friedrich Merz, with early signs of coalition program fragility and potential political tensions affecting his standing.
