German government’s approval rate at all-time low, survey shows

BERLIN

Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s ruling coalition slumped to an all-time low, while the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) jumped to a record high, in a new poll by public broadcaster ARD.

Thursday’s poll showed that 79% of those surveyed were either less than happy or not happy at all with Scholz’s center-left liberal coalition government. Only 20% of voters said the government was performing well.

The majority of the respondents (83%) said the three-way coalition government has been unable to make timely decisions, and it was often taking “too long to find solutions” for the country’s pressing problems.

69% of those polled voiced concern over the economy, with 21% saying the economic situation has significantly worsened in Germany.

Many voters were critical of the government’s plan to ban the gas and oil heating installation to promote non-fossil solutions.

67% said they were worried that the planned measures for climate-friendly heating would be financially overwhelming.

Far-right AfD at record high

Scholz’s Social Democrat Party (SPD) was at 18% in the latest poll, while their coalition partner the Greens were down to 15%. The junior coalition partner, the liberal Free Democrats (FDP) was at 7%.

Germany’s main opposition, the conservative alliance of CDU and CSU, was favored by 29% of respondents.

The AfD, which has been under surveillance by the intelligence for posing a threat to democracy, recorded a new high of 18% support, according to the poll.

Immigration, energy crisis, economy, and inflation were the main reasons for respondents to vote for the AfD.

Leading figures of the party opposed the German government’s decision to deliver weapons to Ukraine, criticized Western sanctions against Russia, and argued that ending energy imports from Russia was against Germany’s national interests.