German Chancellor Friedrich Merz pressured over tax hikes on TV

On 9 June 2026 the ZDF talk show Markus Lanz hosted a heated debate about the German government's reform agenda. CDU politician Johannes Volkmann defended Chancellor Friedrich Merz but was repeatedly asked whether his government might raise taxes. Volkmann could not rule out the possibility, replying “How can I exclude that?”

The discussion highlighted Merz’s low popularity, with recent polls showing only 16 percent satisfaction. Host Markus Lanz and journalist Marina Kormbaki linked the Chancellor’s challenges to multiple crises – the war in the Middle East, the Ukraine situation and domestic issues. Volkmann criticised the emotionalisation of politics, noting that political fringes profit while the government’s image suffers. Green politician Andreas Audretsch added that Germany needs a fresh sense of optimism, calling the current reform period a “winter of disappointment.”

The exchange underscored growing public scepticism about possible unpopular measures such as tax increases and raised questions about the feasibility of the government’s promised reform package.