The CDU leader has become the least popular German chancellor in almost 30 years, according to a fresh poll<\/p>\n
A total of 84% of Germans are dissatisfied with the performance of Chancellor Friedrich Merz, including 51% of supporters of his own Christian Democratic Union (CDU) party, an ARD-DeutschlandTrend poll has suggested.
\nMerz\u2019s ratings dropped by another 3% in June, reaching a record low of 13%, according to the results of the study published on Thursday.
\nThe findings make the CDU leader the least popular chancellor since the Infratest Dimap research company began carrying out monthly polls on behalf of German broadcaster ARD in 1997.
\nGermans are mostly concerned by the country losing its attractiveness for business (78%), the negative effects of climate change (66%), and the migrant influx under Merz (51%), the study suggested.
\nIf an election were held now, the Union, an alliance between the CDU and the Christian Social Union in Bavaria (CSU), would receive only 22% of the vote, losing to the right-wing opposition party Alternative for Germany (AfD) by 5%, it said.<\/p>\n
Read more<\/p>\n
Germany\u2019s rotten center is heading for a reckoning<\/p>\n
According to the ARD-DeutschlandTrend, the AfD, which advocates tougher immigration policy and opposes Berlin\u2019s aid for Ukraine and sanctions against Russia, remains Germany\u2019s most popular political party, being backed by 27%. Its co-leader, Alice Weidel, has the support of some 25% of the public.
\nOn Thursday, the ruling CDU\/CSU-SPD (Social Democratic Party) coalition announced that it had agreed sweeping reforms, which it claimed would revive the economy and counter the rise of the AfD. The measures include cuts to income tax for low- and middle-income families, an overhaul of the pension system, and stricter rules for employees\u2019 sick leave.
\n\u201cThere is also no reason for pessimism\u2026 The best years of our country are not behind us, but there are very good years ahead of us,\u201d Merz claimed.
\nWeidel slammed the measures proposed by the coalition, describing them as \u201ceven more left-wing redistribution and minimal compromises that don\u2019t deserve to be called \u2018reforms.\u2019\u201d
\n\u201cThe fact that this is being sold as a \u2018breakthrough\u2019 shows only one thing: this government\u2019s complete inability to reform,\u201d she wrote on X.<\/p>\n
READ MORE: Leader of Germany\u2019s most popular party wants to restore ties with Russia<\/p>\n
The AfD co-chair told Reuters earlier this week that the only way to rescue the German economy, which contracted in 2023 and 2024, was to restore economic ties between Berlin and Moscow. \u201cCheap energy from Russia was the secret of the success of \u2018Made in Germany\u2019. We need it back,\u201d Weidel insisted.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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