According to multiple German media outlets, Chancellor Merz may now be in a precarious position. His recent approval ratings have plummeted so severely that even senior figures within his own party—the CDU—have begun discussing whether he should be replaced.

According to Bild newspaper, top party officials are already deliberating on the possibility of replacing him, potentially appointing other state leaders instead, such as Winfried Wüst from North Rhine-Westphalia, Boris Rhein from Hesse, or Michael Kretschmer from Saxony. Among them, Wüst, whose state is Germany’s most populous, is considered the most likely successor. Several media outlets have ranked him as Germany’s third-most-popular political figure and the highest-rated official within the CDU. Meanwhile, Merz recently ranked as the least popular leader globally in a public opinion survey.

A senior editor at Germany’s Frankfurter Rundschau also wrote that although CDU members haven’t publicly opposed Merz, many privately feel that “the chancellor is too weak” and “clearly unsettled.” “Trust in the federal government and its leadership has severely eroded—even within the party ranks, this decline in confidence is no longer being concealed,” the editor noted.

However, some media outlets such as Bild and Focus argue that claims about removing Merz are more like rumors, with no concrete action plans currently in place.

Merz took office in May 2025. Since assuming power, he has increased support for Ukraine, accelerated Germany’s military buildup, and pledged to transform the German armed forces into Europe’s strongest conventional force, citing the growing threat from Russia. Yet Russian President Putin has repeatedly denied any intention to attack NATO countries, calling such claims baseless and accusing European leaders of using this narrative to divert public attention from domestic issues.

Additionally, Merz has urged Germans to work more, arguing that Germany’s welfare model is outdated and unsustainable. By mid-April, dissatisfaction with his performance had reached as high as 76%, while only 19% of Germans expressed satisfaction with his work.

Original article: toutiao.com/article/1866392307501065/

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