Merz at the bottom of the survey: electricity tax decision causes dissatisfaction!

Merz at the bottom of the survey: electricity tax decision causes dissatisfaction!

On July 17, 2025, Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU)'s balance sheet is anything but rosy. According to a latest YouGov poll, public opinion of his government has noticeably worsened. Only 22% of eligible voters note that the situation in Germany has improved under his leadership, while 32% observe the opposite development. The vast majority, 37%, see no significant change and are neutral.

Merz took office with the promise that citizens would experience a noticeable positive change in the summer. But reality tells a different story: only 17% of those surveyed believe that this government is one of the best in recent decades, while a whopping 71% firmly reject this. There is a certain level of satisfaction among the Union's supporters - 54% agree with the situation in the country - but even here there is clear skepticism towards Merz's statements. Only 44% of Union supporters support the claim that it is a particularly successful government, while 41% disagree.

Electricity tax discussion dampens the mood

Another dampener in sentiment is the government's decision to grant the reduction in electricity tax only to certain companies and agriculture, while private households are left empty-handed. This measure causes a lack of understanding among the population: 69% of Germans cannot understand this decision. The decision is viewed particularly critically by households with lower incomes - 73% of this group are disappointed by the unequal treatment.

In addition to dissatisfaction with tax policy, general satisfaction with the work of Merz's government is also plummeting. According to a survey by Forsa from the first week of July, 58% of Germans are dissatisfied with their performance, while only 38% express themselves positively. This is particularly evident in the east of the country, where 63% of respondents are dissatisfied.

The opposition on the rise?

The political landscape could also change based on the current poll numbers. The Union has lost ground in the last few weeks: the CDU fell from 28% after the chancellor election to 27%, while the SPD slipped from 15% to 13%. Only 24% of those surveyed still see the CDU and CSU as having the ability to solve Germany's pressing problems. This is a decrease of four percentage points compared to the previous week.

The prospects of a change for the better seem questionable. Only 31% of Germans believe that the Union will be ahead of the AfD in polls at the end of Merz's term in office. 26% expect a tie and the rest see the AfD in the lead. The mood is tense and Merz would no longer be able to cope with the challenges ahead so easily.

The situation remains tense, and the political climate in Germany will depend crucially on how the government can deal with the discontent among the population. Among other things, he reports on the challenges facing Merz Radio Bielefeld as well as Mercury.