New Poll Reveals Shift in Public Perception of CDU Leader Friedrich Merz
A recent survey by Forsa for RTL Deutschland has shown a significant decline in the public’s perception of CDU leader Friedrich Merz in five out of six key attributes. While 49 percent of respondents still view him as “strong in leadership” a two-point drop from the previous survey, his ratings for “competence” have dropped by three points to 43 percent.
Merz has also seen a significant decline in being perceived as “trustworthy” (24 percent, a six-point drop) and “sympathetic” (16 percent, an eight-point drop). However, the CDU leader has made some gains in being seen as “able to explain complex issues clearly” with 65 percent of respondents now holding this view, a five-point increase from the previous survey.
The survey also found that Merz’s ratings have plummeted among supporters of the SPD and the Greens, with only a small increase in positive ratings among CDU/CSU supporters. The only area where Merz has not seen a decline is in being seen as understanding what moves people, with 36 percent of respondents holding this view, a three-point increase.
The poll was conducted on January 30 and 31, 2025 and is based on the responses of 1,001 participants.