The conservative party of German Chancellor Friedrich Merz is losing its approval rating to the far-right “Alternative for Germany“ (AfD), according to a new survey published on the 100th day of his rule, DPA reported, BTA reports.
The reason for the decline in support is a series of controversial decisions during the difficult political summer - a failed nomination for a constitutional judge and the unclear position on military aid to Israel, which caused dissatisfaction both in the opposition and among some of Merz's allies.
According to data from the “Forsa” institute, the AfD is leading with 26% support, two points more than Merz's bloc (CDU/CSU). The chancellor's decision last week to halt arms sales to Israel after the country announced plans for a full occupation of the Gaza Strip was welcomed by some voters but drew sharp criticism from conservatives, who saw it as a retreat from Germany's historic commitments.
The coalition between conservatives and social democrats has achieved some significant successes, including approving a record debt package of nearly one trillion euros, designed to stimulate the economy and aid Ukraine in a break with traditional German fiscal austerity.
Internationally, Merz has demonstrated a more confident presence than his predecessor Olaf Scholz, playing a key role in uniting European countries in support of Ukraine, especially against the backdrop of US President Donald Trump's hesitation. In domestic politics, however, tensions are rising, especially over proposals to cut social benefits for Ukrainian refugees.
“The far-right is already leading the conservatives because of their positions on migration and the economy,“ commented left-wing activist Christoph Bautz on social media. This is not the first time the AfD has overtaken the conservatives; a similar trend was also observed in April.
The next big vote in Germany will be in March 2026, when regional elections will be held in the state of Baden-Württemberg. Although Merz promises a return to stricter conservative principles in the spirit of the period before Angela Merkel's rule, it was the approval of the record debt that raised doubts among his more right-wing supporters.
According to another survey by the ADR, only 29% of Germans consider Merz a good leader in a time of crisis, and his personal rating is 32%, significantly below that of Scholz (56%) and Merkel (74%) on their 100th day as chancellor.
At the same time, the German Social Democratic Party also saw its support drop by 13%, three points less than the result of the February election. The number of undecided voters is at its highest level in seven months. According to a survey by the INSA institute, the conservatives maintain a fragile lead.