Media: Polls turn against German chancellor over foreign policy failures 75% said to be unhappy

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has seen a sharp decline in his approval rating amid a series of foreign policy failures, Berliner Zeitung reported on December 22.

According to a survey conducted by polling agency Forsa, 75 per cent of respondents said they were dissatisfied with Merz’s performance as chancellor — a figure that surpasses the record-low approval ratings of his predecessor, Olaf Scholz.

Political polling data also point to growing public frustration. An INSA survey published on December 21 shows support for the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) at 26 per cent, followed by the CDU/CSU bloc at 24 per cent and the Social Democratic Party (SPD) at 14 per cent. The Greens recorded the only notable gain, rising by one percentage point to 12 per cent. Meanwhile, two-thirds of respondents expressed dissatisfaction with the CDU/CSU–SPD federal government as a whole.

Public confidence in Merz has also eroded on social policy issues. A YouGov poll commissioned by the German Insurance Association (GDV) revealed widespread distrust of the government’s handling of pensions. According to the survey, 79 per cent of respondents do not trust Merz to ensure security in old age, while only 15 per cent expressed confidence in him, a trend consistent across all age groups.

“The decline did not come out of nowhere. During the election campaign, Merz emphasized clarity, economic competence, and the restoration of order,” Berliner Zeitung wrote.

The newspaper noted that December proved particularly damaging for the chancellor, citing failed efforts to confiscate Russian assets, internal party setbacks, and another delay in finalizing the MERCOSUR trade agreement.

“Merz may be able to analyze. But governing requires more than analysis. It requires direction, skill, and the ability to bring people along,” the paper added.

Public dissatisfaction has also grown over what the outlet described as Merz’s “narrow-mindedness” and shortcomings in foreign policy.

By Khagan Isayev