Friedrich Merz’s popularity has slumped after just a year as chancellor, and people within his own CDU party are now reportedly discussing whether he should be replaced.
Reports are circulating this week that CDU officials have been privately weighing whether a leadership challenge could realistically be mounted against him. According to Bild, “the discussions so far have not involved concrete planning in a large group, but rather considerations expressed in smaller circles as to whether such a possibility existed and, if so, how realistic it might be.”
Junge Freiheitreports that figures will initiate plans if the AfD wins an absolute majority in Saxony-Anhalt in the state elections on September 6th, which is looking increasingly plausible with every new poll.
The latest puts the AfD at 42%—exactly double the score of the CDU. Responding, AfD co-leader Alice Weidel said:
Whoever writes leftist screeds against the AfD and slanders volunteer work and large swaths of the population, instead of solving this country’s problems, shouldn’t be surprised by poll numbers like these.
The rumours about a possible leadership challenge are certainly likely to push the populist opposition party to work even harder towards winning big.
Merz’s poor performance on the economy and, perhaps most of all, on migration means his popularity is at an all-time low. In one recent survey, 84% of respondents said they were not satisfied with his work.
Sind Sie mit der bisherigen Arbeit von Bundeskanzler Friedrich Merz zufrieden? | Umfrage Forsa/RTL, n-tv
The CDU’s Hendrik Wüst, who serves as minister-president of the state of North Rhine-Westphalia, is being touted as a possible replacement for Merz. But Welt columnist Reinhard Mohr said on Wednesday that he is no more likely to solve Germany’s political problems.
Michael Curzon is a news writer for europeanconservative.com based in England’s Midlands. He is also Editor of Bournbrook Magazine, which he founded in 2019, and previously wrote for London’s Express Online. His Twitter handle is @MichaelCurzon_.
