Merz faces resignation threat as party ratings collapse
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz could face resignation just 16 months into office, as senior party members privately discuss a leadership change ahead of key state elections. His party's support has fallen to a record low while the far-right AfD leads national polls.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz may be facing resignation in the near term, only 16 months after taking office, according to Politico, as cited by "European Pravda."
The crisis comes ahead of two key state elections this Sunday, September 20, in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and Berlin, where Merz's center-right Christian Democratic Union (CDU) risks a painful defeat. Senior party officials are privately discussing whether Germany needs a change of chancellor to halt the government's rapid decline in support.
Ratings hit record lows
Merz's national approval rating fell to just 14% this week. A new poll shows his conservative CDU/CSU alliance has dropped to an unprecedented low of 18%.
The same poll shows the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) leading with 29% support. The AfD also came first in recent elections in the state of Saxony-Anhalt, nearly winning an absolute majority, while Merz's CDU lost more than half of its voter support there.
International allies watching with concern
European and international allies are watching with surprise as Germany — once a bastion of stability during Angela Merkel's 16 years in power — potentially faces its second rapid leadership change in a row. Merz's predecessor, Olaf Scholz, saw his governing coalition collapse in November 2024.
The scale of Merz's domestic crisis was underscored by his decision to cancel his trip to next week's UN General Assembly session.
