Ipsos poll: 67% of Germans call Merz's chancellorship a failure
In short
An Ipsos poll for Der Spiegel found that 67% of Germans consider Chancellor Friedrich Merz's work a failure, with 48% fully agreeing and 19% somewhat agreeing, Vedomosti and Kommersant reported. Some 58% said he should leave his post as chancellor and CDU leader. The survey of 2002 people was conducted from 30 September to 4 October, with a margin of error of 2.2 percentage points.
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An Ipsos poll conducted for Der Spiegel found that 67% of Germans consider Friedrich Merz's chancellorship a failure, according to Vedomosti and Kommersant. Vedomosti reported that 48% of respondents fully agreed the chancellorship was a failure and a further 19% somewhat agreed. RIA Novosti, which published only a headline, put the figure at almost 70%. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
On the question of whether Merz should leave his post as chancellor and leader of the Christian Democratic Union, 44% of respondents fully agreed and 14% somewhat agreed, or 58% in total, Vedomosti reported. Only 11% said he should not resign. Kommersant also reported the 58% figure. In eastern Germany 80% rated his work as unsuccessful, against 64% in western Germany, according to Vedomosti and Kommersant. [ 2 , 3 ]
The survey covered 2002 people and was conducted from 30 September to 4 October, with a margin of error of 2.2 percentage points, Vedomosti reported. Vedomosti said it took place after regional elections in Saxony-Anhalt as well as elections in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern and Berlin. Kommersant quoted Der Spiegel as saying the results were representative of the German electorate and dealt another blow to the chancellor, who was already in a difficult position. [ 2 , 3 ]
The figures follow other weak readings reported by Vedomosti. An Infratest dimap poll for ARD on 1 October found 10% of Germans were satisfied with Merz's work while 88% rated it negatively. On 27 September, Die Welt reported that the CDU/CSU bloc led by Merz had fallen to 19%, the lowest level of the current legislative term, down one point from the previous survey. The same poll put the Alternative for Germany at 29%, ten points ahead of Merz's bloc, with the Greens at 15%, the Social Democrats at 14%, the Left at 10%, the Free Democrats at 4% and the Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance at 3%, according to Vedomosti. [ 2 ]
Der Spiegel said Merz had alienated many voters by failing to keep campaign promises and that, instead of instilling optimism and belief in change, he often reproached the public and reacted defensively to criticism, Kommersant reported. Kommersant also referred to a separate report on why the German chancellor declined to resign after his party's latest election setback; the documents do not state his position directly. [ 3 ]
Why it matters
The poll adds to a run of weak readings for Merz, including an Infratest dimap survey for ARD on 1 October and a Die Welt poll on 27 September showing the CDU/CSU at its lowest level of the current legislative term. Because the survey follows regional elections in Saxony-Anhalt, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern and Berlin, it is presented by the outlets as a signal about the chancellor's standing inside his own coalition and party. The documents give no indication of any decision by Merz on his future.
Key facts
- An Ipsos poll for Der Spiegel found 67% of Germans consider Friedrich Merz's chancellorship a failure, with 48% fully agreeing and 19% somewhat agreeing [ 2 , 3 ]
- 58% of respondents said Merz should leave his post as chancellor and CDU leader, while 11% said he should not [ 2 , 3 ]
- In eastern Germany 80% rated his work as unsuccessful, compared with 64% in western Germany [ 2 , 3 ]
- The poll surveyed 2002 people between 30 September and 4 October and has a margin of error of 2.2 percentage points [ 2 , 3 ]
- Vedomosti reported the survey was conducted after regional elections in Saxony-Anhalt, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern and Berlin [ 2 ]
- An Infratest dimap poll for ARD on 1 October found 10% of Germans were satisfied with Merz's work and 88% rated it negatively [ 2 ]
- A Die Welt poll cited on 27 September put the CDU/CSU bloc at 19%, with the AfD at 29%, the Greens at 15%, the SPD at 14%, the Left at 10%, the FDP at 4% and the BSW at 3% [ 2 ]
- RIA Novosti headlined that almost 70% of Germans consider Merz's work a failure [ 1 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- An Ipsos poll conducted for Der Spiegel found that a majority of Germans consider Merz's chancellorship failed, with 67% agreeing in some degree [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- 58% of respondents said Merz should leave the chancellorship [ 2 , 3 ]
- 80% of respondents in eastern Germany rated Merz's work as unsuccessful [ 2 , 3 ]
- The poll covered roughly 2000 respondents [ 2 , 3 ]
Still unclear
- RIA Novosti's headline says almost 70% of Germans consider Merz's work a failure, while Vedomosti and Kommersant report the Ipsos figure as 67% RIA Novosti published only a headline, so it is not possible to tell whether it refers to the same Ipsos poll or a different survey
- Whether Merz will resign or has refused to resign Only Kommersant refers to the question, and it does so in a reference to a separate article about why the chancellor declined to step down after his party's election setback; the document does not state his position directly
- Who commissioned the poll and how it was published Vedomosti attributes it to Ipsos for Der Spiegel, while Kommersant attributes the survey to Der Spiegel itself
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- Die Welt reports the CDU/CSU bloc under Merz has fallen to 19%, its lowest level in the current legislative term [ 2 ]
- Fieldwork for the Ipsos poll for Der Spiegel begins [ 2 ]
- An Infratest dimap poll for ARD finds 10% of Germans satisfied with Merz's work and 88% rating it negatively [ 2 ]
- Fieldwork for the Ipsos poll ends [ 2 ]
- RIA Novosti headlines that almost 70% of Germans consider Merz's work a failure [ 1 ]
- Vedomosti publishes the Ipsos figures: 67% call the chancellorship failed and 58% want Merz to step down [ 2 ]
- Kommersant reports the same poll, citing Der Spiegel's assessment that the result is another blow to the chancellor [ 3 ]