Merz Marks One Year as Chancellor with Record-Low 15% Approval Rating

Friedrich Merz marked his first anniversary as German Chancellor on May 6, 2026 — a milestone overshadowed by the worst first-year approval ratings of any post-war German leader. Forsa polling placed his personal approval at 15%, with government approval even lower at 11%. The milestone recalled his historically difficult election: Merz became the first post-war German chancellor to require a second Bundestag round to secure office (February 2025). His first year was marked by coalition infighting with the SPD, the crisis with Trump over Middle East policy and US troop withdrawals, an energy price shock from the Middle East conflict, and the AfD's first-ever lead over CDU in polls.