Less than a year after assuming office, Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) is facing a catastrophic collapse in public trust.
According to the latest RTL/ntv Trendbarometer polled in early April 2026, dissatisfaction with the Chancellor has hit a record high of 78%.
Only 20% of Germans believe Merz is doing a good job—a figure that has effectively halved since his peak approval of 42% in June 2025.
The political fallout is equally grim for the governing centre-right parties. For the first time, the AfD has drawn level with the CDU/CSU, with both currently polling at 26%.
While Merz’s hardline “Merz Doctrine” on Syrian repatriation was intended to win back conservative voters, the data suggests it may be alienating his base without slowing the surge of the right. Even among his own cam, approval is precarious, with only 57% of CDU voters backing his performance.
