The right-wing AfD is the most popular party in Germany, according to a poll that suggests only 22% support the chancellor

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has seen his approval rating fall to a record low 22%, placing him below the lowest point recorded for his predecessor, Olaf Scholz. 

According to a poll by the Forsa opinion research institute, which surveyed 2,501 people on behalf of NTV and RTL TV channels last week, 76% of respondents are dissatisfied with Merz's performance after only six months in office.

Merz's CDU/CSU-SPD coalition has also struggled in the polls as it continues to advance a controversial pension reform package marred by internal disputes. The CDU/CSU alliance has remained one percentage point behind the increasingly popular opposition right-wing Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, which stands at 26%, making it the strongest party in the survey.

Asked which party they consider capable of addressing Germany's problems, only 15% picked the CDU/CSU, its lowest level in a year and a half. In a separate INSA poll conducted in October, nearly half of respondents (49%) also said they expect Merz's government to collapse before its term officially ends in 2029.

Merz's decline in popularity comes amid continued criticism for his policy shifts, which his opponents say contradict his campaign promises to revive the economy, while doubling down on supporting Ukraine with military and financial aid. Economic expectations have deteriorated sharply as well, with 63% of Forsa respondents expecting worsening conditions in the coming years.

Since entering office, Merz has pushed for increased militarization and has vowed to transform the German Armed Forces into "the strongest conventional army in Europe." His government's proposal to reinstate mandatory military service, however, has been met with opposition and calls for protests. Merz has justified the measures by citing the supposed 'Russian threat'.

Moscow has dismissed the accusations, arguing that Merz is attempting to transform Germany into "the main military machine of Europe." Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has accused Berlin and other European countries of sliding into a "Fourth Reich."