Never before has distrust of the current German government been higher. A large majority of 84% said they disapprove of the work of the cabinet led by Chancellor Friedrich Merz. Only 15 percent of the 1,316 people with the right to vote who were surveyed approve of the ruling coalition between the CDU and the SPD.
Dissatisfaction with high taxes and deductions
The representative survey by infratest dimap also shows something else: the poor ratings of leading politicians and Chancellor Merz correspond to the fact that two-thirds of Germans (66%) feel too heavily burdened by taxes and social deductions.
Only 20 percent of those surveyed believe that the government will take the necessary measures to guarantee the stability of social security in Germany. And only a quarter (26%) express confidence that the cabinet will be able to do what is necessary to revive the economy in Germany. In both areas, skepticism towards the coalition between the CDU and the SPD is strongly expressed even among their own supporters.
The assessments of the work of individual politicians in the cabinet are also highly critical. The sharpest drop in trust is for Chancellor Friedrich Merz. His work is currently approved by only 21% of those surveyed - 8% less than in March.
Record low approval for the Social Democrats
Overall, the weakest are the assessments of the SPD and its cabinet ministers. Trust in the party is also at a record low. If there were parliamentary elections in Germany today, Merz's Christian Democrats would receive 26% of the vote, and the Social Democrats - only 12%. A weaker result for them has never been measured sociologically.
The right-wing populist and partly extremist party “Alternative for Germany“ enjoys higher trust. Its approval rating currently stands at 25%. The Greens and the Left have both increased by one percentage point to 14% and 10% respectively.
Author: Stephanie Claudia Müller ARD