Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s Approval Hits Record Low After CDU State Election Losses

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s approval rating has fallen to a record low after his Christian Democratic Union (CDU) suffered defeats in three state elections, according to a report by Al Jazeera.

The losses came against challenges from both the political right and left in Germany, the report said, pointing to pressure on Merz’s party from multiple directions on the political spectrum.

The report did not specify the exact approval figures or name the three states where the CDU suffered defeats, though it characterized the result as a record low point for Merz since he became chancellor.

Merz has led a CDU-headed government in Germany, and state election results are often viewed as a barometer of national political sentiment between federal votes, with losses in multiple states in close succession typically seen as a significant setback for a sitting chancellor’s party.

The report did not detail which other parties made gains as a result of the CDU’s losses, though it noted that the party faced competition from both right-leaning and left-leaning rivals.

No response from Merz or CDU officials to the approval figures was included in the available report.