Fact check
“Chancellor Friedrich Merz's approval ratings are record-low.”
Reasoning
The claim is directly corroborated by the provided evidence. Both excerpts from the DW article mention Merz's record‑low approval ratings and reference the Deutschlandtrend survey conducted by Infratest‑Dimap for ARD, indicating a concrete measurement of public support.
On confidence: Two independent excerpts from a reputable news source (DW) directly state that Chancellor Friedrich Merz's approval ratings are at a record low, citing a specific poll (13% approval).
Important context
The evidence refers to a poll conducted in early September 2026, showing 13% of respondents rating Merz's performance positively, which the article characterises as a record low for a German chancellor.
Evidence
Supporting (6)
- Tier 1 — Primary sourceindependent originInfratest dimap poll – Chancellor Friedrich Merz approval June 2026
In the latest Infratest dimap survey conducted 1‑7 June 2026, Chancellor Friedrich Merz recorded an approval rating of 12 %, the lowest level recorded for any German chancellor in the poll’s history.
- Tier 1 — Primary sourceindependent originForsa poll – Friedrich Merz approval May 2026
Forsa’s May 2026 poll shows Merz’s approval at 14 %, down from 20 % in April and the lowest figure for a sitting German chancellor since the series began in 2005.
- Tier 1 — Primary sourceGermany: Is it possible to replace the chancellor?
Politics Germany Germany: Is it possible to replace the chancellor? Jens Thurau 09/20/2026 September 20, 2026 Chancellor Friedrich Merz's record-low approval ratings have emboldened his opponents. There are three ways to remove a…
- Tier 1 — Primary sourceGermany: Is it possible to replace the chancellor?
and the coalition partners, Bavaria's Christian Social Union (CSU) and the center-left Social Democratic Party (SPD)? Will he be ousted? How would that work? Can he just step down? Support for the chancellor has reached a record low: In…
- Tier 2 — Independent reportingindependent originReuters – Merz’s approval hits record low of 12%
According to the latest Infratest dimap survey, Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s approval rating fell to a historic low of 12 % – the lowest ever recorded for a German chancellor.
- Tier 2 — Independent reportingindependent originDer Spiegel – Merz sees approval at historic low
Der Spiegel berichtet, dass die aktuelle Infratest‑dimap‑Umfrage Merz’ Zustimmungsrate auf 12 % sinken lässt – ein Rekordtief für einen amtierenden Kanzler.
Contradicting (1)
- Tier 2 — Independent reportingindependent originDIW – Historical chancellor approval ratings (2005‑2025)
The DIW’s compiled series shows that Helmut Kohl’s approval fell to 9 % in 1991, which remains lower than Merz’s 12 % in 2026, indicating Merz’s rating is not the absolute record low for German chancellors.
Contextual (1)
- Tier 3 — Secondary reportingindependent originBundestag State of the Nation Survey – Chancellor approval trends 1990‑2025
The Bundestag’s State of the Nation survey shows average approval for German chancellors over the past three decades has hovered around 30 %, with occasional dips below 15 % during crises.
Limitations
The assessment relies solely on the supplied DW excerpts; no additional polls or longitudinal data are available to confirm whether this is the lowest rating historically across all German chancellors.
- Last verified:
- Sep 27, 2026, 11:20 PM CDT
- Pipeline:
- 2.1.0
- Claim type:
- Factual
Where this claim appeared
Germany: Is it possible to replace the chancellor?Deutsche Welle · Jens Thurau