Overview
- At the one-year mark Wednesday, polls show Merz near the bottom of European leaders with a YouGov score of minus 52 and only about one in seven Germans satisfied with his work.
- Coalition leaders vowed to close rifts on tax, welfare and health after weeks of public infighting left core reforms on pensions, health funding and tax undecided.
- After Merz said Iran had humiliated the United States, President Trump rebuked him and announced a 5,000‑troop withdrawal from Germany along with higher tariffs on European cars.
- Industry groups warned of drift as the BDI said business is deeply unsettled and a Handelsblatt survey found 73% of Germans doubt Merz’s economic competence.
- The far-right AfD has overtaken the CDU in some polls, raising the risk of deeper instability as mainstream parties continue to reject working with the party.