Merz hits historic low

Germany's Chancellor Friedrich Merz has the lowest approval rating of any German chancellor since polling began, at just 13%. His popularity started lower and fell faster than any predecessor.

“At a paltry 13%, Merz's popularity rating is the lowest for any German chancellor since polling began.”

CDU collapses in elections

Merz's conservative CDU party suffered three poor regional election showings in recent weeks. In Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, the CDU failed to reach the 5% threshold to enter the regional parliament.

AfD surges to dominance

The anti-immigration Alternative for Germany became the biggest political faction in two of the three recent state elections and has a chance at governing Saxony-Anhalt, despite being labeled anti-democratic and far-right extremist by German authorities.

AfD claims to replace CDU

AfD co-leader Alice Weidel said her party has effectively replaced the center-right CDU as Germany's true catch-all people's party. The AfD accuses Merz of failing to improve the economy and address immigration fears.

“AfD co-leader Alice Weidel said on Monday that her party had effectively replaced the center-right CDU as Germany's true Volkspartei, or catch-all people's party.”

Palace coup rumors swirl

There have been weeks of rumors about a potential coup to replace Merz with a more popular CDU politician. Possible candidates are circulating but none will publicly commit without party backing.

Decades of voter frustration

German voters have repeatedly elected center-left and center-right traditional parties since World War Two, but increasingly feel let down and frustrated about their economic future. Resentment mounted after the 2007-8 financial crisis when banks were bailed out while families lost savings.

Migration and security fears

The 2015 migration crisis brought over one million refugees and migrants to Europe, with Germany taking in one million people. Germans have been shocked by headline-making attacks by migrants, some linked to Islamist extremist groups.

“In December, for example, police said they arrested five individuals suspected of plotting a Christmas market attack in Munich "based on an Islamist motive".”

Energy crisis hits economy

Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine cut Germany's access to cheap Russian energy. Combined with Trump's trade tariffs and Chinese competition, this has heavily damaged Germany's export-driven economy and left Germans paying some of Europe's highest energy costs.

Germany's crisis ripples across EU

Germany is Europe's largest economy, the world's largest donor to Ukraine and the biggest net payer into the EU budget. When Germany turns inward due to political crisis, the knock-on effects across Europe are considerable.

“Germany is Europe's, and therefore the eurozone currency's, largest economy.”

Nationalist surge threatens unity

The EU is watching Germany's political upheaval with concern as nationalist, Eurosceptic parties surge across the bloc. Major EU powers including France, Italy, Spain and Poland head to the polls soon, with Beijing and Moscow watching closely.