Merz in Trouble

Many of them are calling on him to increase pressure on Israel, according to the latest survey conducted for the public broadcaster ARD ahead of the government’s 100-day anniversary.

When it comes to the federal government, 69 percent of citizens expressed dissatisfaction with its work, while only 29 percent expressed satisfaction.

The picture is similar for Chancellor Merz (Christian Democratic Union, CDU): 65 percent of respondents are dissatisfied with his performance, and just 32 percent are satisfied, Deutsche Welle reports.

So far, Merz has been most visible on the foreign policy front. He has visited U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House, repeatedly voiced support for Ukraine in its fight against Russian aggression and urged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to exercise restraint in Gaza, according to DW.

Domestically, his government has distinguished itself with a tougher stance on migration.

Survey results show that 50 percent of respondents believe Merz is not up to the job, while 42 percent think he is. Additionally, 56 percent say he cannot manage Germany well in times of crisis, compared with 29 percent who believe he can.

Regarding his policy on Ukraine, 57 percent of respondents are dissatisfied, while 34 percent express approval.

As DW recalls, even before becoming chancellor, Merz played a key role in relaxing Germany’s strict “debt brake”, a constitutional mechanism that limits borrowing. In the coming years, the government plans to invest €500 billion in railways, roads, schools, and in modernizing the military. This represents a clear shift from the conservatives’ pre-election promise of no new borrowing, raising questions about whether this has damaged Merz’s image.

Currently, 66 percent of respondents say Merz is not a person they can trust. His popularity has dropped by 10 percentage points compared to the last survey, now standing at 32 percent, placing him third among German politicians. Ahead of him are Bavarian Prime Minister and Christian Social Union (CSU) leader Markus Söder, with 38 percent, and long-time frontrunner, Social Democratic Defense Minister Boris Pistorius, with 60 percent.

Shortly after becoming chancellor, Merz stated in an interview that he no longer understood the goals of the Israeli army in Gaza. More recently, he has explicitly called on Netanyahu to alleviate the suffering of the two million people living in the enclave.

Unlike France, the United Kingdom, and Canada, Germany has yet to recognize a Palestinian state in response to the Gaza conflict. Merz has also not decided on possible sanctions against Israel. The fate of hostages still held by the Islamist militant group Hamas remains a top priority for Germans; 72 percent cite it as a major concern.

The fate of hostages still held by the Islamist militant group Hamas remains a top priority for Germans; 72 percent cite it as a major concern.

A slightly smaller, but still clear, majority of 66 percent say the German government should increase pressure on Israel to change its course.

Survey participants also shared their views on U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariff policy. Due to Trump’s often unclear customs measures, 65 percent of Germans say they are worried or very worried about economic stability, while only 5 percent say they are not concerned.

According to DW, February’s election results showed that, as in many other countries, political sentiment in Germany is shifting to the right, and society is becoming increasingly polarized. The partly far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) has doubled its support since the 2021 elections to around 20 percent.

Merz’s rise to power on May 6 has not reversed that trend. If elections were held next weekend, 27 percent of voters would choose the CDU/CSU, while AfD support would climb to 24 percent. The other three parliamentary parties, the SPD (13 percent), the Greens (12 percent), and the Left (10 percent), remain at their previous levels of support.