The German government’s approval rating has dropped to just 11%, according to a poll published on Tuesday, one day before the first anniversary of Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s term in office, dpa reported on Tuesday, as noted by Agerpres.

According to the poll conducted by the Forsa Institute, only 11% of respondents said they were satisfied with the governing coalition’s performance, while 87% said they were dissatisfied.

Approval ratings have fallen sharply since July 2020, when the figure stood at 38%.

Chancellor Merz’s coalition—composed of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), the Christian Social Union (CSU), and the Social Democratic Party (SPD)—has been plagued by internal strife and geopolitical tensions during its first 12 months in office.

The situation has only worsened as the government struggled to respond to rising oil prices due to the war in Iran, and Merz’s imprudent comments that Iran had “humiliated” the United States reignited the transatlantic dispute with U.S. President Donald Trump.

While the governing coalition parties are falling in the polls, Alternative for Germany (AfD, far-right) has risen to first place, gaining a five-point lead in some national polls ahead of major regional elections later this year.

According to the Forsa poll, between 80 and 90% of respondents are dissatisfied with the Merz government’s performance in key areas such as inflation, infrastructure, the economy, and social reforms.

The government fares slightly better on immigration policy, with 32% of respondents expressing satisfaction.

The survey was conducted on a sample of 1,002 eligible voters between April 30 and May 4.

source – AGERPRES