German Chancellor Merz Admits Dissatisfaction with Poll Results and Personal Struggle with Criticism
Quick Look
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz acknowledged his party's dissatisfaction with current opinion poll results and admitted personal discouragement from criticism, speaking at a CDU campaign event in Langenhagen, noting the previous government collapsed quickly and current lack of support hinders effective long-term leadership.
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Why It Matters
Merz referenced the previous German government's internal division and rapid loss of momentum as justification for the need for change, linking current struggles to broader governance challenges.
BERLIN, September 5. /TASS/. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has acknowledged that his party cannot be satisfied with current opinion poll results and admitted that he personally finds the criticism directed at him discouraging.
"Of course, we are dissatisfied with the poll results. Of course, I am personally depressed by the extent of the criticism," Merz said at a Christian Democratic Union (CDU) election campaign event in Langenhagen, near Hanover. His remarks were quoted by the Bild newspaper.
Merz recalled that the previous German government had been "divided from within and run out of steam so quickly" that a change of power had become necessary.
"Today, we are also not receiving the support we need to lead the country effectively over the long term," he acknowledged.
Merz’s approval ratings have remained at record lows for some time, while the ruling CDU/CSU bloc has lost its lead in the polls to the Alternative for Germany (AfD).
Open Questions
- What specific steps Merz plans to improve CDU's poll performance
- How long the current low approval ratings have persisted
- Whether internal party divisions are contributing to the poor results
