German Chancellor Friedrich Merz faces a serious political crisis after a year in office. According to polls by the Forschungsgruppe Wahlen agency, only 13 percent of Germans approve of his work, while 85 percent are dissatisfied. Merz has thus become the least popular chancellor since the founding of the Federal Republic. The collapse of his popularity is particularly pronounced among young people and workers, and comes despite criticism from within the ranks of his own coalition. ta3.com ↗
The conflict with Donald Trump over Iran remains one of Merz's most fundamental problems. The American president ordered the withdrawal of five thousand American soldiers from Germany over the next six to twelve months. Merz sharply criticized the Iranian attacks on the United Arab Emirates and the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, calling on Tehran to return to the negotiating table. Despite the disputes with Washington, Germany continues to strengthen its military presence — last week a contingent set out from Fulda toward the Middle East to prepare for a Bundeswehr deployment. Merz attempted to ease the conflict with Trump by emphasizing that he would not give up cooperation with the American president despite differences in their views on the war in the region. Die Zeit ↗
On the domestic front, Merz's government is being weakened by serious disputes. SPD parliamentary group leader Miersch rejected his criticism of the coalition partner, arguing that the coalition's base is not bad. In the television program "Was nun, Herr Merz?" Merz also expressed disappointment with the effectiveness of his program to reduce the energy tax on fuel — some gas stations lowered prices by only 17 cents, others less. Economic problems are deepening — companies from the North Rhine-Westphalia region are demanding "courage for change" from the government, and analyses by the Ifo Institute warn of the risk of recession. Tagesschau ↗
Political opposition within the government's own coalition is also manifesting itself in the position of parliamentary group leader. Jens Spahn was re-elected to lead the CDU/CSU parliamentary group with a result of 86.5 percent, meaning he becomes a strong guarantor of his position even in relation to the chancellor. Political scientist Robin Alexander points out that Germany is "between Scylla and Charybdis" — Merz is producing "more and more collateral damage," and there is a risk of weakening the so-called defensive dam against the AfD. Vice-Chancellor Lars Klingbeil rejected American lecturing and declared that Europe does not need instructions from Trump, but he too views the situation with doubts. Spiegel.de ↗
The government is also facing criticism over its housing policy. It plans to cut housing spending by one billion euros despite the crisis of affordable housing shortages. Security experts warn that the withdrawal of American troops would return the American presence Die Zeit ↗
Merz in crisis: a year in office ends with historically low approval and internal disputes
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Sources (16)
Friedrich Merz und Lars Klingbeil: Ein Jahr Koalition im 200-Sekunden-Check
Spiegel.de
| 05:50 06.05.
Jens Spahn: Ist er plötzlich so stark, weil Merz so schwach ist?
Die Zeit
| 17:40 05.05.
Jens Spahn als Fraktionschef von CDU und CSU wiedergewählt
Tagesschau
| 16:54 05.05.
Mit 86,5 Prozent im Amt bestätigt: Fraktion stärkt Spahn den Rücken – auch gegen den Kanzler
Sueddeutsche Zeitung
| 16:06 05.05.
Jens Spahn mit gut 86 Prozent als CDU/CSU-Fraktionschef wiedergewählt
Spiegel.de
| 16:06 05.05.
Fraktionsvorsitz der CDU/CSU: Leipzig unter Schock
Die Zeit
| 06:03 05.05.
Lage im Überblick: Gefährdete Waffenruhe: USA und Iran auf Eskalationskurs
Die Zeit
| 04:00 05.05.
Parteien: Klingbeil sieht Koalitionsgeburtstag «ein bisschen betrübt»
Die Zeit
| 16:44 06.05.
Umfragen zu den Parteien: So schnell hat sich Merz unbeliebt gemacht
Die Zeit
| 11:02 06.05.
Wohnungspolitik: So verschärft die Regierung die Wohnungskrise
Die Zeit
| 08:00 06.05.
Merz produziert "immer mehr Kollateralschäden". Wackelt die "Brandmauer" gegen die AfD?
Der Standard
| 07:39 06.05.
News: Friedrich Merz, Vereinigte Arabische Emirate, Iran-Krieg, FC Bayern, Paris Saint Germain
Spiegel.de
| 05:33 06.05.
Friedrich Merz: Wo der Kanzler bislang punkten konnte – und wo er sich steigern muss
Spiegel.de
| 00:35 06.05.
Jens Spahn wiedergewählt: Jetzt wird Friedrich Merz seinen Fraktionschef nicht mehr los
Spiegel.de
| 18:36 05.05.
Zníženie dane sa na cenách pohonných hmôt v Nemecku prejavilo len obmedzene
hnonline.sk
| 11:47 05.05.
Brüssel: Zollstreit und Verbrenner-Frust - Söders Kabinett in Brüssel
Die Zeit
| 04:00 05.05.
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