German Chancellor Friedrich Merz faces criticism after World Cup exit

Following Germany's penalty shoot‑out loss to Paraguay at the World Cup, Chancellor Friedrich Merz posted a congratulatory message on social media that was widely condemned as out of touch. The post, which read “Même si l’élimination fait mal : quel match ! … Nous sommes fiers de vous,” was later attributed to a coordination error by a junior aide.

The backlash added to Merz’s already low popularity – a recent poll showed 87 % of Germans dissatisfied with the government and only 15 % approving of his performance. Analysts linked the episode to broader national challenges, including three consecutive years of economic contraction, a slowdown in the automotive sector with up to 100 000 Volkswagen jobs at risk, and a rise in far‑right support.

Merz later issued a second statement emphasizing solidarity, but the incident highlighted the chancellor’s struggle to connect with the public amid a deep economic and identity crisis in Germany.