German Chancellor sounds alarm as coalition support crumbles

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has acknowledged growing concern over his government's declining approval ratings, saying the coalition is working to understand why it has fallen short of public expectations.

Speaking at a press conference, Merz said the latest opinion polls serve as a reminder that his government must improve both its performance and the way it communicates with the public. 

"It worries me, and I am trying to understand the reasons behind it," Merz told reporters.

The chancellor said he and his team are continually assessing whether the government needs to improve its public messaging or adjust its policy approach.

"It is clear that the public had certain expectations that we have not yet fulfilled," he said.

Merz also acknowledged that his administration has come under sustained criticism but insisted he views it as part of the political process.

"I am not complaining about it—I accept it as it is. I see the current polling situation, if you like, as an incentive to keep working, to do our job well and correctly, and to communicate and explain our policies more effectively," he said.

The German leader stressed that the challenge extends beyond his personal popularity and affects the governing CDU/CSU alliance and its coalition partner, the Social Democratic Party (SPD).

"If elections were held today, our governing coalition would probably not secure a majority in Germany. That is something that weighs on me, but it is also something we are working on together," Merz said.

Having served as chancellor for 14 months, Merz was also asked to identify the most difficult moment of his tenure.

"I would need more time to think about that," he replied.

When pressed on the mistake from which he had learned the most, Merz responded that he is "a self-learning system and learns something new every day."

The remarks come as Merz faces mounting political pressure. In an INSA popularity ranking released in early June, he placed last among Germany's leading politicians. Recent opinion polls also indicate that support for the CDU/CSU bloc has fallen well below the 28.5% it secured in the last Bundestag election, while the Alternative for Germany (AfD) has topped some surveys to become the country's most popular political party.

By Vafa Guliyeva