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Friedrich Merz faces potential early exit as 54% of Germans expect him to leave office before 2029

A majority of German voters now expect Chancellor Friedrich Merz to vacate his position before the scheduled 2029 federal election. According to a YouGov poll, 54% of respondents believe the chancellor will leave office early, driven by record-low approval ratings and a perceived loss of authority within his own party. While Merz has maintained his position, his personal approval rating has hit an all-time low of 13%, with many voters expressing dissatisfaction with the economy and planned reforms. Within the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), internal pressure is mounting as the party considers a replacement. Some officials suggest Merz could be forced to step down as early as September 21. Despite the looming possibility of an early exit, Merz has recently returned to the public eye. He is scheduled to visit the wildfire-hit region of Hürtgenwald to thank emergency crews for battling the largest forest fire in the history of North Rhine-Westphalia. This visit marks his first public appearance since his summer break.

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