Germany’s Merz Did a Reshuffle of His Struggling Government – But All He Accomplished Was Enraging His Own Allies – Talk of Replacing the Chancellor Is Growing

Merz’s competence is questioned in his own party.

When Olaf Scholz lost a no-confidence vote and was dismissed as German Chancellor back in February 2025, all of Germany let out a sigh of relief.

Scholz seemed the absolute worst leader for a Germany filled with illegal migrants, with a stagnant economy that is de-industrializing at a rapid pace.

But they haven’t seen Friedrich Merz yet.

Less than 18 months later, the failure of Chancellor Merz is depicted in his poll numbers – historical for all the wrong reasons.

ARD-DeutschlandTrend poll: 13% satisfied with Merz’s work as Chancellor; 84–87% dissatisfied. That’s the weakest rating for any incumbent chancellor in nearly 30 years of the poll.

RTL/n-tv Trendbarometer poll: 14% satisfied, 85% dissatisfied (Merz is ‘stable’ at recent lows).

So, you have a highly unpopular Chancellor, stuck in record-low favorability numbers.

Merz’s solution was to promote a reshuffle in his government, looking for a ‘fresh restart’.

Unsurprisingly, the move backfired, with intensified pressure on ‌Merz after his reshuffle angered his own ranks and put a spotlight on his government’s competence.

Many in his own CDU party doubt that he can be the man to oppose the right-wing surge at state elections in September.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz came under criticism from his own party members after a cabinet reshuffle, which was meant as a fresh boost for his leadership, turned into chaos https://t.co/8Nzsw9hDot

— Bloomberg (@business) July 27, 2026

Reuters reported:

“After a testing first year in office, Merz’s CDU/CSU bloc is trailing in national polls behind the far-right Alternative for Germany, or AfD, and in several states.

[…] Merz’s personal popularity ⁠has sunk, according to a poll by broadcasting group RTL/ntv published on Tuesday, with only 15% of respondents satisfied with his performance, and only 49% of his ​own party’s supporters happy with him.

The AfD has also for the first time overtaken the conservatives on perceptions of competence and ability to solve Germany’s problems, the poll ​said.

‘The events of the past week have significantly damaged Merz’s standing within the CDU’, a member of the CDU federal executive board told Reuters.”

German President Steinmeier appoints new ministers in cabinet of Chancellor Merz. New ministers for health, transportation and management of the chancellory. Steinmeier said it is not unusual to change ministers. Reforms should go on. Merz‘s own party criticized the reshuffle. pic.twitter.com/Ez3gY7klu2

— Bernd Thomas Riegert (@RiegertBernd) July 29, 2026

Politico reported:

“Discontent in Merz’s party — the conservative Christian Democratic Union — has been mounting for two weeks now.

[…] No one is yet saying out loud that Merz should go. But if his party performs poorly in three state elections in September, the crisis will likely become much harder to contain.

[…] For now, Germany’s conservative politicians are holding back in public, at least until this fall’s elections: in Saxony-Anhalt on Sept. 6, then in Berlin and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern two weeks later.

In private, however, talking about replacing the chancellor is no longer taboo.”

Read more:

Failing German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on the Ropes as His CDU Party Plans ‘Palace Coup’ To Enthrone Young and Popular Hendrik Wüst in His Place