A recent survey indicates a majority of German citizens express reservations regarding Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s ability to effectively manage ongoing crises. The Forsa poll, commissioned by broadcasters RTL and ntv and conducted among 1,005 individuals on Monday and Tuesday, reveals that only 38 percent of respondents believe Merz will successfully steer Germany through current challenges. A significant 55 percent voiced doubts.
Support for Merz’s crisis management capabilities is primarily concentrated within his own political base, with 72 percent of supporters of the CDU/CSU expressing confidence. Among supporters of the SPD, 54 percent believe in his leadership, while the figure drops to 45 percent among Green party supporters. Notably, skepticism is particularly strong among AfD voters, with only 7 percent expressing faith in Merz’s leadership and a substantial 91 percent voicing concerns.
Regarding the balance of power within the governing coalition, the CDU/CSU is perceived as the dominant partner by a plurality of those surveyed. Half of respondents (50 percent) identified the CDU/CSU as the leading force, compared to 27 percent who attributed that role to the SPD. This perception is especially strong among supporters of the Green party (72 percent) and the Left party (65 percent), as well as within the CDU/CSU itself (63 percent). SPD voters are slightly more inclined to see their own party as dominant (34 percent), while AfD voters tend to view the SPD as the stronger force within the coalition (47 percent).