The Alternative Party is advancing, while the Union and the Greens are declining – public trust in the government is collapsing
The political scene in Germany is witnessing dramatic transformations with a series of new opinion polls revealing widespread dissatisfaction with Chancellor Friedrich Merz and his government. Despite a slight decline in approval ratings, the Alternative for Germany (AfD) remains the strongest party at the national level, clearly ahead of all its competitors. In contrast, the coalition of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and the Social Democratic Party (SPD) is facing its lowest approval ratings since taking office, amid public frustration over economic stagnation and delayed reforms.
According to the latest survey conducted by RTL/NTV, support for the Alternative Party has slightly decreased to 26%, but it still leads ahead of the Union Alliance (CDU/CSU) which received 24%. The Social Democratic Party came in at 13%, and the Greens at 12%, while the Left Party (Die Linke) rose slightly to 12%. Smaller parties, such as the Free Democratic Party (FDP) and the Zara Wagenknecht Alliance (BSW), remain below the threshold required to enter parliament. Despite the slight changes, the message from voters is clear: trust in traditional parties is eroding rapidly.
Chancellor Merz's popularity has reached its lowest level since he took office, with 71% of Germans expressing dissatisfaction with his performance, the worst rating since the beginning of his term. Only about a quarter of citizens now believe he is performing his duties well. Analysts see the lack of progress in economic reforms, the restructuring of the social assistance system, and poor management of the Ukraine issue as factors contributing to the decline in confidence in his leadership.
At the same time, the leader of the Green Party, Franziska Brantner, sharply criticized the government for its support of Ukraine. After her recent visit to Kyiv, she called for full funding for military and humanitarian aid from Merz and Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil, as requested by Defense Minister Boris Pistorius. Brantner announced her support for the proposal by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to use frozen Russian assets as guarantees for loans granted to Ukraine, emphasizing that Europe must fill the void left by the decline in American support.
Inside, discontent is growing within the ranks of the Democratic Union Party itself. Prominent figures in the party no longer believe what Merz announced about the "Summer of Reforms," as most reform plans – including the amendment of the citizen's income system (Bürgergeld) – have been postponed until at least 2026. The party's secretary-general, Carsten Linnemann, announced that the goal of the reform is to achieve social justice and reduce the misuse of aid, without providing clear details so far.
On his part, Defense Minister Pistorius announced a massive investment plan worth 35 billion euros to enhance Germany's space and defense capabilities by 2030. The plan includes the development of satellite systems, secure space launches, and improving cybersecurity to protect critical infrastructure. This initiative is an attempt to demonstrate Germany's strength on the international stage at a time when citizens' trust in their government is declining.
Overall, the results of the recent polls reflect a picture of a government under increasing pressure and a political landscape undergoing transformation. With the continued dominance of the Alternative Party and rising public discontent, Merz faces one of the most challenging phases of his rule. If this trend continues, Germany may be on the brink of an unprecedented political reshaping in decades.