Germans skeptical of incoming coalition as Merz prepares to lead

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
12 Apr 2025 20:16

The coalition pact, titled "Responsibility for Germany," is expected to be signed on May 5, paving the way for CDU leader Friedrich Merz to be sworn in as chancellor on May 6.

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Markus Soeder, chairman of Bavarian¥s Christian Social Union party, Friedrich Merz, Christian Democratic Union party chairman and the Social Democratic Party co-leaders Lars Klingbeil and Saskia Esken, brief the media after reaching an agreement between their parties on a coalition for a new German government at a news conference in Berlin, Germany, Wednesday, April 9, 2025 (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber)

Nearly half of Germans are unconvinced that the incoming coalition government will succeed in governing effectively, according to a new survey conducted by the INSA polling institute for Bild newspaper. The poll results come as the conservative CDU/CSU alliance and the center-left Social Democratic Party (SPD) finalize a historic power-sharing agreement.

The coalition pact, titled "Responsibility for Germany," is expected to be signed on May 5, paving the way for CDU leader Friedrich Merz to be sworn in as chancellor on May 6. The agreement outlines a program aimed at stabilizing Germany’s economy, reforming taxes, and tightening migration controls—measures designed to counter growing support for the right-wing Alternative for Germany (AfD), which recently topped national polls for the first time.

BUNDESTAGSWAHL | Sonntagsfrage INSA/BILD am Sonntag

Union: 25% (+1)
AfD: 24%
SPD: 16%
GRÜNE: 11%
LINKE: 10% (-1)
BSW: 5% (+1)
FDP: 3% (-1)
Sonstige: 6%

Änderungen zur letzten Umfrage vom 05. April 2025

Verlauf: https://t.co/f9MV7iZ8iJ #btw29 pic.twitter.com/NT3yONLy8l
— Deutschland Wählt (@Wahlen_DE) April 12, 2025

Despite these proposals, public confidence remains limited. According to the INSA survey, conducted between April 10 and 11 with 1,001 respondents, 47% said they do not expect the new coalition to perform well, while only 35% were optimistic about its prospects. An additional 16% were undecided.

The poll also underscores deep unease about migration policy, a central issue in German political discourse. When asked about the likely outcome of the coalition’s approach, 38% of respondents said the situation would remain unchanged, while 28% feared it would worsen. Only 26% expressed trust in the new government's ability to reduce the flow of undocumented migrants.

While the Merz-led coalition hopes to present itself as a stabilizing force amid growing polarization, the data suggests that much of the public remains uncertain about its capacity to deliver meaningful change.

The surge in AfD support has added further pressure, reflecting broader dissatisfaction with mainstream parties and their handling of migration and economic policy.