Merz Faces Mounting Pressure as Germany Weighs Leadership Change
A YouGov survey found that 48% of respondents believe Merz will not remain in office until the end of the year. Another poll conducted for German broadcaster n-tv indicated that 55% support his resignation.
However, Wolfgang Muno, a comparative politics professor at the University of Rostock, said Merz is unlikely to leave office in the near future despite mounting criticism. He added that the coalition parties have little interest in holding an early national election.
“A snap election would be more or less political suicide for Chancellor Merz’s Christian Democrats (CDU/CSU) and their coalition partner, the Social Democrats, as both are polling below their results in the last federal election,” he said.
The CDU/CSU’s significant losses in three German states this month have also prompted speculation about a possible “chancellor swap.” Under such a scenario, the conservative alliance could select a different leader and secure their appointment through parliament without calling a new election.
Muno, who closely monitors German domestic affairs, said such a change appears unlikely in the immediate future. He noted that no prominent conservative politician seems prepared to assume leadership while the government is implementing reforms that have drawn public opposition.
“I don’t see any candidate who is willing to do so. Neither North Rhine-Westphalia’s premier Hendrik Wuest nor Bavarian premier Markus Soeder said they would be willing to step in,” he said, referring to two widely discussed potential successors.
Muno added that even if conservative lawmakers rallied behind a replacement, changing the chancellor would not resolve Germany’s underlying challenges.
In his view, the election results demonstrate broader public dissatisfaction that Merz’s departure alone would not overcome.
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