# German political approval and presidential suitability

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/german-political-approval-polling
> Updated: 2026-08-08T23:20:14.000Z. Sources: 8. Developments: 3.

By early July 2026, Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s personal approval rating fell sharply to 13%, indicating a steep decline in public support for the incumbent government. Critics have characterized Merz as lacking empathy, often attributing a perceived coldness and distant, logic-driven communication style to his professional background as a manager and his former tenure at BlackRock Germany. Notably, Merz was the first German Chancellor to require a second round of voting to secure his position.

Regarding the future of the Federal Presidency, an August 2026 Forsa survey of 1,000 respondents found that 47% of Germans consider former Chancellor Angela Merkel suitable for the role, while 48% deem her unsuitable. Other potential candidates include Bavarian Landtag President Ilse Aigner (26%) and entertainer Hape Kerkeling (24%). 

The survey also highlighted significant indifference regarding the gender of the next president following Frank-Walter Steinmeier. While 74% of respondents expressed no preference, 19% favor a female president and 5% favor a male president. Preference for a female president was most pronounced among supporters of the Left (43%) and the Greens (39%), whereas 81% of men expressed indifference.

## Timeline

### 2026-08-08: Friedrich Merz faces criticism amid low Chancellor approval ratings

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz faces low popularity ratings and criticism for a perceived lack of empathy, stemming from his background in finance and management.

3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/friedrich-merz-faces-criticism-amid-low-chancellor-approval-ratings

### 2026-08-07: German poll finds 47% view Merkel as fit president, 74% indifferent to gender of successor

A Forsa poll of 1,000 Germans finds 47% see Angela Merkel as suitable president while 74% are indifferent to the gender of her successor, with 19% preferring a woman and 5% a man.

6 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/german-poll-finds-47-view-merkel-as-fit-president-74-indifferent-to-gender-of-successor

### 2026-07-10: German Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s approval rating drops to 13%

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s approval fell to 13%, the lowest on record, as 84% of Germans express dissatisfaction amid controversial pension, tax and health reforms.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/german-chancellor-friedrich-merzs-approval-rating-drops-to-13

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Cite as: German political approval and presidential suitability. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/german-political-approval-polling