A year ago, Friedrich Merz became German chancellor by stumbling out of the gate. Now, he's apparently still looking for the gate. With a mere 19% approval rating - second-lowest among 24 democratic leaders surveyed by Morning Consult - Merz is proving that even Europe's top economy can have a bottom-tier popularity contest.
The conservative Christian Democrat took office on 6 May 2025 after a humiliating first-round parliamentary vote that left 18 unnamed rebels denying him a majority via secret ballot. It was an inauspicious start for a coalition with the Social Democrats, and things have only gotten more awkward since.
Merz biographer Daniel Goffart summed it up: "The cart is certainly stuck in the mud." A sentiment that might double as the government's unofficial motto. Senior aides, however, argue the low ratings are unfair given the challenges - a hostile Donald Trump, deindustrialization, and surging fuel prices from the war in Iran. They point to achievements like halving new asylum applications, boosting defense and infrastructure spending, and addressing military shortages.
Critics counter that Merz's erratic communication style and internal government rivalries have undermined any sense of common purpose. The chancellor has a habit of making offhand comments that cause anxiety or offense, setting himself apart from cautious predecessors Olaf Scholz and Angela Merkel. "Merz is an impulsive guy, sometimes emotional," Goffart said. "And at the age of 70, it is probably not going to change."
Late last month, Merz stunned observers by criticizing the US-led war in Iran to a classroom of school pupils. The White House retaliated with Trump announcing a drawdown of at least 5,000 US troops in Germany and new trade penalties on European cars. Nothing says diplomatic finesse like picking a fight with the teacher's pet.
Political commentator Nils Minkmar compared the situation to Timmy the wayward whale - a massive, once-mighty creature slowly dying while people make quixotic rescue efforts. "Europe's largest economy lies waiting on the sandbank. We are Timmy," Minkmar wrote, noting that incremental measures like petrol rebates and tax tweaks won't revive a struggling car industry besieged by tariffs and Chinese competition.
Political consultant Johannes Hillje noted Merz's lack of head-of-government experience has exposed key skill gaps. "No one would claim that this leader faces easy tasks, but by making relatively simple mistakes he is making the job of governing even harder than it already is." Merz needs to offer a broader vision than just asking Germans to tighten their belts for future prosperity - a tough sell when trust is scarce.
Despite the far-right Alternative für Deutschland leading in polls, Goffart dismissed doomsday scenarios. The coalition partners are "a bit chained together," he said, with no alternative but to stick it out. Even if they bicker and get fed up, there's no other majority in sight. So for now, Germany's cart remains stuck in the mud, with Merz at the reins, hoping for a tow.