Voters in Germany are urging Friedrich Merz to apply pressure on Israel
In the first 100 days of his tenure, Chancellor Friedrich Merz of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) has faced a series of challenges, from tariffs and immigration to foreign policy.
On the economic front, US President Trump has imposed a 15% tariff on most goods from the European Union, and 50% on steel and aluminium. However, the US has been exempt from tariffs on exports to the EU. This move has raised concerns among Germans, with a clear majority expressing concern or very concerned that US tariffs will further hurt the German economy.
Chancellor Merz has been focusing on irregular immigration on the domestic policy front. Despite this, his popularity ratings have declined, with only 4 out of 10 respondents now believing he is up to the job of effectively combating irregular immigration.
In foreign policy, Chancellor Merz has shown support for Ukraine in its defense against Russian aggression. He has also called on Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu to alleviate the suffering of the approximately 2 million people living in the Gaza Strip. Both Chancellor Merz and his predecessor, Olaf Scholz, believe Germany has a special responsibility for Israel's existence. However, opinions in Germany are divided on the issue of arms deliveries to Israel. A clear majority of people believe the chancellor should increase pressure on Israel, but parts of the Union, especially CSU, criticize the decision as a political and strategic mistake.
Chancellor Merz visited US President Donald Trump at the White House in June. He has also focused primarily on foreign policy in his first few months in office.
On the economic front, €500 billion has been earmarked for renovating railways, roads, and building schools, and at least the same amount again for upgrading the German army. This is a departure from the conservatives' campaign promise not to take out any new loans.
The pension, nursing care, and health systems are in desperate need of reform, but there is a lack of confidence in the government's ability to take the necessary measures to make these areas fit for the future.
The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party has seen a rise in support, with 24% of respondents stating they would vote for them. Meanwhile, support for the SPD, Greens, and Left Party in the Bundestag is unchanged.
The fate of the hostages still being held captive by the Islamist terrorist group Hamas remains a concern. Chancellor Merz has not yet addressed this issue publicly.
In summary, Chancellor Friedrich Merz's first 100 days in office have been marked by challenges on both the domestic and foreign policy fronts. While his popularity ratings have declined, he has shown support for Ukraine and called for alleviating the suffering of people in the Gaza Strip. However, opinions in Germany are divided on the issue of arms deliveries to Israel. Economically, €500 billion has been earmarked for infrastructure and defense, but there is a lack of confidence in the government's ability to reform the pension, nursing care, and health systems. The far-right AfD party has seen a rise in support, while the SPD, Greens, and Left Party have maintained their support. The fate of hostages held by Hamas remains a concern, but Chancellor Merz has yet to address this issue publicly.
Read also:
- Lu Shiow-yen's Challenging Position as Chair of the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Under Scrutiny in Donovan's Analysis
- Enemy Forces Have Taken Ukrainian Prisoner
- BJP Persuaded Delhi Voters That Supporting AAP Was Pointless, According to Pavan K. Varma
- Potential Democratic Contenders for Presidency in 2028 Yet to Exclude Themselves from Race
