Voters in Germany express desire for Friedrich Merz to exert influence on Israel's policies
In the past 100 days, Chancellor Friedrich Merz of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) has been at the helm of Germany's government. However, public opinion on his foreign policy, especially regarding Israel, is facing criticism and growing concerns.
According to recent polls, only 26% of Germans now believe Merz is someone who can be trusted, a 3% decrease from February. This decline is particularly noticeable in his handling of the partial export ban on military equipment to Israel.
Initially, Merz had shown strong support for Israel, aligning with traditional German foreign policy and criticizing the previous government's restrained support. However, reports of widespread starvation and humanitarian crisis in Gaza led him to publicly accuse Israel of violating international humanitarian law and call for an immediate improvement in Gaza’s humanitarian situation [2].
German voters, it seems, want the government to put more pressure on Israel, reflecting unease with Israel’s actions and Merz's balancing act between commitment to Israel’s security and addressing the humanitarian crisis [1]. This desire for increased pressure on Israel is shared by a clear majority of Germans [3].
Merz has also shown support for Ukraine in its defense against Russian aggression. His focus on foreign policy, particularly irregular immigration on the domestic policy front, has been a topic of discussion among German citizens [4].
However, Merz's popularity ratings have declined, with only 4 out of 10 respondents now believing he is up to the job of effectively combating irregular immigration. There is a lack of confidence in the government's ability to take the necessary measures to make the pension, nursing care, and health systems fit for the future, marking a departure from the conservatives' campaign promise not to take out any new loans [5].
The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party has seen a rise in support, with 24% of respondents now stating they would vote for the party. This shift in political alignment is a concern for Merz and the CDU, as they strive to maintain their lead with 27% support [6].
In international relations, Merz visited US President Donald Trump at the White House in June. He has also called on Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu to alleviate the suffering of the approximately 2 million people living in the Gaza Strip [7].
Looking ahead, €500 billion has been earmarked for renovating railways, roads, and building better schools, with at least the same amount again dedicated to upgrading the German army [8]. Yet, a clear majority of respondents to the latest poll are concerned or even very concerned that US tariffs will further hurt the German economy [9].
In a nutshell, German voters are critical of Chancellor Merz's foreign policy, particularly on Israel, and want him to apply more pressure on the country due to humanitarian concerns. Merz has shifted from unreserved support for Israel toward calling out humanitarian law violations and restricting military exports partially. Overall voter confidence in Merz's ability to manage these issues is mixed, with support largely from his party base. There is also a noted gap in policy perception and acceptance among Germany’s Muslim population [1][2][4].
- Criticism and concerns towards Chancellor Friedrich Merz's foreign policy, particularly his handling of the partial export ban on military equipment to Israel, are growing among Germans, as reflected in recent polls.
- Merz's public accusation of Israel's violations of international humanitarian law and his call for an immediate improvement in Gaza’s humanitarian situation have been met with approval by German voters, who want the government to put more pressure on Israel.
- While Merz has shown support for Ukraine against Russian aggression and initiated a focus on foreign policy, his popularity ratings have declined due to perceived inadequacies in combating irregular immigration and concerns about the future of pension, nursing care, and health systems.
- The AfD party, a far-right political group, has seen a rise in support, with a quarter of respondents indicating they would vote for the party, which is a concern for Merz and the CDU as they strive to maintain their lead.
- In an effort to address Germany's aging infrastructure, €500 billion has been allocated for improvements in transportation, education, and the military, but a majority of respondents are anxious about potential negative impacts of US tariffs on the German economy.
- In the sphere of policy and legislation, Merz has called on Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu to alleviate the suffering of people in Gaza and has visited US President Donald Trump at the White House, marking significant moments in German foreign policy over the past few months.
