After 100 days. Will Meretz keep its promises?
The latest opinion polls reveal a troubling picture for the black-red coalition made up of CDU, CSU, and SPD. Despite Friedrich Merz's electoral promises of new and bold policies, voters feel disappointed. After the failure of the traffic light coalition, Germans hoped for a fresh start, but trust in this government is quickly fading.
Polling expert Hermann Binkert clarified that the state of discontent is increasing because Germans do not see evidence of the government's willingness to make decisive decisions. He pointed out that after 100 days, the current coalition led by Merz is viewed less positively than Olaf Scholz's coalition was at the same stage. People want real results, not cautious steps.
Merz tried to show leadership by distancing the CDU/CSU from the Merkel era. His government focused on combating illegal immigration and reshaping economic policy under the leadership of Katharina Reich, prioritizing pragmatism especially in the energy sector. These shifts suggest an intention to bring about real change, but critics see them as insufficient to restore public trust.
The SPD seems more hesitant. Lars Klingbeil, the deputy chancellor, acknowledged the need for reforms, but his party resists stricter policies on asylum and citizen benefits. This hesitation has weakened the cohesion of the coalition. Even controversial decisions, such as the nomination of Frauke Bräutigam-Gersdorf to the Federal Constitutional Court, have shown the Social Democrats' lack of consensus and strategy.
As a result, SPD support in opinion polls has fallen below its result in the last federal elections, while voters continue to shift towards CDU/CSU and AfD. Analysts warn that SPD is losing its traditional base, is no longer seen as a workers' party, and faces the risk of marginalization if it continues to lean left.
Despite the difficult start, observers indicate that the coalition has time to recover. With only 115 days in power, the government can still prove itself if it acts boldly and decisively. For many Germans, it is no longer about party politics as much as it is about ensuring stability, boosting the economy, and pulling the country out of its multiple crises before trust is completely lost.