A recent ZDF Politbarometer survey reveals that most Germans do not support Friedrich Merz, the leader of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), as the future chancellor.
According to the poll, 38% of respondents would approve of Merz as chancellor, while 56% would not, giving him a lower approval rating than the federal government with him in charge.
Merz’s approval is highly polarized, particularly among voters of the Social Democratic Party (SPD). Of those voters, 62% oppose him as chancellor, while only 32% support him.
Support for the future government coalition is also lukewarm: only 48% of respondents back it, while 37% view it negatively, and 10% remain neutral.
Opinions about the coalition’s ability to address Germany’s issues are deeply divided, with 48% believing it will make a significant contribution, while 47% are skeptical.
