A majority of Germans doubt the suitability of CDU leader Friedrich Merz for the Chancellor’s office. According to a survey published on Tuesday by the opinion research institute Forsa for the broadcasters RTL and ntv, around 40 percent of those questioned believe Merz is suitable for the office, while 54 percent do not.
Among CDU/CSU supporters, 83 percent are convinced Merz is suitable, but in other political camps, skepticism prevails. Fifty-four percent of SPD supporters, 62 percent of Green voters, 85 percent of AfD voters and 92 percent of Left voters do not think Merz would make a good Chancellor. The skepticism is particularly pronounced in Eastern Germany, where only 32 percent believe Merz is suitable, compared to 42 percent in the West.
According to the survey, party preferences have not changed significantly since the federal election. The Union remains below the 30 percent mark, with 28 percent. The SPD loses a percentage point and now has 15 percent, the Greens remain at 11 percent, while the AfD gains a point to reach 22 percent. The FDP and BSW each lose a percentage point and now have 3 percent. The Left, on the other hand, gains three percentage points and now has 12 percent, a significant increase.
Forsa surveyed 1,006 people from February 28 to March 3 on Merz’s suitability for Chancellor and 3,001 people on party preferences in the same time period.