German Poll: 83% Dissatisfied with Merz After One Year as

A staggering 83% of Germans are unhappy with Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s performance one year after he took office, according to a survey conducted by Infratest dimap for the ARD network. Only 16% of respondents expressed satisfaction with the chancellor, a drop of 5 percentage points compared to April. The dissatisfaction figure rose by 7 points, marking the worst approval rating for any current chancellor since the poll’s inception.

The sharp decline contrasts sharply with Merz’s early tenure. In June 2025, just one month after assuming the chancellorship, his approval rating stood at 39%. By comparison, his predecessor Olaf Scholz (SPD) hit a low of 18% in September 2024.

Public Confidence and Communication

Nearly 69% of those surveyed believe Merz does not meet the requirements of his office, while only 25% think he does. This represents a dramatic shift from August last year, when 42% of Germans considered him a suitable figure for the role. The harshest criticism centers on his communication style: just 14% find his approach convincing, a 20-point drop from August 2025, while 82% deem it unconvincing.

The poll, which surveyed 1,303 people between May 4 and 6, coincides with the first anniversary of Merz’s government formation on May 6, 2025. Results also indicate a notable decline in popularity for the ruling coalition parties, with the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) topping some polls as the strongest party in the country.