Chancellor Friedrich Merz's unpopularity fuels talk of finding a replacement
Chancellor Friedrich Merz's popularity has plummeted, leading to discussions of a potential change in leadership within the CDU. Despite internal party rumors, no official calls for his replacement have been made. The political landscape is further complicated by economic challenges and rising competition from the far right.
- ▪Friedrich Merz has hit record lows in popularity just after his first anniversary in office.
- ▪Internal divisions within the coalition with the Social Democratic Party have paralyzed the government.
- ▪Centrist Hendrik Wüst's name has been mentioned as a possible alternative, but he has shown no interest.
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German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in Berlin, May 21, 2026. KAY NIETFELD/DPA VIA AP The buzzword circulating in Berlin these days is Kanzlerwechsel – meaning "chancellor change." Just a few weeks after celebrating his first anniversary in office on May 6, the conservative Friedrich Merz appears weakened by persistent rumors that a small group within his own party, the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), was campaigning for a change at the head of the government. The leader has hit record lows in popularity, and the "black-red" coalition he formed with the Social Democratic Party (SDP) after the 2025 legislative elections has become paralyzed by internal divisions. Meanwhile, his party is repeatedly outpaced by the far right in polls.
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