Majority of Germans expect Chancellor Friedrich Merz to be replaced before 2029 election
YouGov poll shows 36% expect Friedrich Merz to be replaced before the 2029 election; 29% expect him to stay until then.
A recent YouGov survey finds a majority of Germans expect Chancellor Friedrich Merz to leave office before the regularly scheduled 2029 election.
Survey details
According to the poll, 36 percent of respondents think Merz will be removed from the chancellorship before the 2029 vote, while 18 percent believe that this will happen during the current year. A further 29 percent said they expect the chancellor to remain in office at least until the 2029 election, and 17 percent gave no answer.
The survey also asked which politician would be more suitable as chancellor. Only 9 percent selected Merz himself, whereas 25 percent named his CDU colleague and premier of North Rhine-Westphalia, Hendrik Wüst. The plurality—66 percent—said they did not know.
Those results underline uncertainty within public opinion about the durability of Merz's position and the absence of a clear alternative figure whom voters prefer. Within the CDU, the choice of a potential successor or a decision to keep Merz through the parliamentary term could shape the party's standing ahead of the 2029 contest.
Political analysts say such poll snapshots can reflect short-term reactions to current events and media coverage; whether they foreshadow an actual leadership change will depend on developments inside Merz’s party and the broader political climate in the coming months.
Photo: DPA)
