Germany’s Merz faces pressure, but chancellery chief says he is staying

Nina Warken, German Chancellor’s chief of stuff, has expressed confidence that Chancellor Friedrich Merz will remain in office following upcoming state parliament elections in three federal states.

“After that, Friedrich Merz will remain chancellor,” Warken said in an interview with local media.

She stressed that Germany needs a stable and effective governing coalition capable of advancing reforms and addressing the country’s challenges.

“We need a federal government that works together in a stable manner, moves the country forward and now also implements reforms jointly. This is important, and this is exactly what we want to do, including after the state parliament elections,” Warken said.

Her comments come amid growing skepticism among the German public over Merz’s political future. A YouGov poll commissioned by the DPA news agency found that a majority of respondents do not expect him to complete the full legislative term.

According to the survey, 36% of those questioned believe Merz will remain chancellor through the end of this year but will be replaced before the next Bundestag elections in 2029. Another 18% expect him to leave office as early as this year.

The figures underscore mounting pressure on Merz and his government as Germany approaches the regional elections.

Recent polling also indicates that public dissatisfaction with Merz and his government has reached a new record level, raising questions about the coalition’s stability and the chancellor’s ability to maintain political support.

By Vafa Guliyeva