Survey revealed a significant surge in Merz's public favorability
Growing Support for Germany's New Chancellor, Friedrich Merz
It appears that Friedrich Merz, recently appointed as Chancellor of Germany, is gaining momentum in the eyes of the German public. A recent poll conducted by the Insa institute for the Bild newspaper shows a significant 13 percentage point increase in Merz's popularity, reaching 36%. This improvement is quite remarkable, considering his introduction just four weeks ago.
In addition, the federal government's popularity has risen as well, climbing up to a respectable 37%. Hermann Binkert, head of Insa, shared that Germans seem to approve of Merz's migration policy and were impressed by his recent visit with US President Donald Trump.
The CDU/CSU, the party led by Merz, has managed to outpace the right-wing party "Alternative for Germany" (AfD). CDU/CSU leads with 27%, compared to AfD's 23%. This marks the widest gap between the two since March, and a sign that Merz's efforts are bearing fruit. In May, their ratings were nearly identical, but since then, CDU/CSU has seen steady growth, while AfD has remained steady.
It's worth noting that the poll was conducted from June 5 to 6, 2025, involving 1002 participants. The margin of error does not surpass 2.9 percentage points.
Merz was officially appointed as Chancellor on May 6, 2025, after receiving a majority vote in the Bundestag, securing 325 votes out of the necessary 316 votes. He took over from Social Democrat Olaf Scholz, who had been in office since 2021.
It's not all smooth sailing for Merz, though. His comments on a specific matter led to a message from Russian politician Volodin to the Bundestag.
When looking at the bigger picture, some factors contributing to Merz's rising popularity include his pro-business economic policies — including tax cuts and deregulation — aimed at revitalizing Germany's economy. Additionally, Merz's leadership and vision for a stable Germany are often praised by supporters, although critics view his rightward shift as polarizing.
On the other hand, the AfD remains a significant force with 23% support. Despite Merz's achievements, the party's influence continues to grow, especially among voters who are disappointed with mainstream politics. The AfD benefits from public distrust in the establishment, which could pose a threat to Merz's leadership if not addressed effectively.
Overall, Merz's increased popularity and the CDU/CSU's support appear to be the result of shrewd economic policies and strides toward a stable government. However, Merz's tenure is not without challenges, such as ideological divisions and the persistent influence of the AfD.
Friedrich Merz's popularity surge, as evidenced by a recent poll, might be attributed to the support for his migration policy and leadership vision, steering the CDU/CSU ahead of the right-wing party "Alternative for Germany" (AfD) in policy-and-legislation matters. The federal government's popularity has also risen, reaching 37%, indicating a positive shift in domestic politics, falling under the general-news category.
