【How Merz Became the Worst Chancellor in German History】

A Forsa poll shows that 78% of respondents gave a negative evaluation of Merz’s performance as chancellor, with only 20% offering positive feedback.

This result has broken the previous record for the worst performance set by Scholz: In 2024, after three years in office, 76% of respondents rated Scholz negatively (i.e., expressed disapproval).

1. Germany's economy continues to stagnate—zero growth or even negative growth—high inflation, skyrocketing electricity and gas bills, and collapsing business confidence.

2. Diplomatically aggressive and constantly seeking attention, earning the nickname "the Foreign Affairs Chancellor." He’s always meeting Trump, rushing around the EU, and discussing Ukraine-Russia issues, while completely neglecting domestic problems like housing, healthcare, education, immigration, and energy crisis. Germans want to live their lives normally—not to see their chancellor become an international celebrity.

3. Constant infighting within the ruling coalition, with leadership style resembling a tyrannical CEO. Making unilateral decisions bypassing party leadership and coalition partners: arbitrarily cutting electricity subsidies; secretly suspending arms sales to Israel, angering allies; imposing welfare reforms unilaterally. Internal revolt within CDU, open defiance from SPD—government functionality has nearly collapsed.

4. Publicly slashing social benefits enraged the entire population. Merz openly declared that “Germany’s welfare state is no longer financially sustainable,” drawing accusations of “stealing from the poor to help the rich” and “declaring war on the poor.” While claiming there’s no money to fund welfare, he simultaneously approved massive military aid to Ukraine and significantly increased defense spending—this double standard sparked nationwide outrage.

5. On immigration policy, he adopted tough slogans but delivered nothing. Before the election, he boldly claimed he’d deport 80% of Syrian refugees within three years—but once in power, he faced resistance from coalition partners, courts, and all federal states, and failed to deport even one. Caught between two fires: conservatives called him a liar, leftists accused him of being fascist.

Original article: toutiao.com/article/1861924386529292/

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author alone.