Merz seeks reform turnaround amid crisis and poor polls

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz is pushing for significant reforms, planned for agreement within the coalition before the summer recess, in an effort to navigate Germany's multiple crises and counter dismal poll numbers. A recent survey commissioned by "Bild am Sonntag" reveals that 77% of Germans are dissatisfied with Merz's performance as chancellor, a six-point increase since April.

The political landscape shows the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) leading in voter intention polls, holding an eight-point advantage over Merz's Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and its Bavarian sister party, the Christian Social Union (CSU). The latest poll places the AfD at 29% and the CDU/CSU at 21%. The junior coalition partner, the Social Democratic Party (SPD), fares even worse, ranking fourth with only 12% support, trailing the Greens (14%) and The Left (11%).

Despite these challenging figures, Merz remains confident in his ability to turn the situation around within the existing coalition, which he sees as having no viable alternative. His proposed reforms target fiscal policy and social security systems, aiming to provide relief for businesses and consumers and stimulate the economy. These reforms, initially planned for last autumn, have been repeatedly postponed.

From the SPD's side, Andreas Bovenschulte, the mayor of Bremen, has cautioned against creating excessive expectations that cannot be met. He criticized the current approach as "champions of the world in making announcements," suggesting that a lack of concrete action undermines ambitious plans. Bovenschulte supports the idea of undertaking long-delayed reforms but advocates for a step-by-step approach rather than attempting a comprehensive package at once. The SPD's priority remains a tax reform focused on providing relief primarily to low and middle-income earners, a point of contention with the CDU.

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We are currently world champions in making announcements. We talk about the biggest and deepest program of the last decades. Beneath that, we do nothing. Whoever raises these expectations should not be surprised if they cannot fulfill them in the end.