Merz Concedes He Must Do Better as Popularity Plummets

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has admitted that he is struggling to convince the public of his government's policies and needs to improve communication with voters. His remarks come at a time of sharp decline in his popularity, with only 16% of Germans saying they trust the chancellor, according to the latest polls.

Speaking in Wurzburg, Merz rejected claims that he had described Germans as "lazy". His remarks on shorter working hours and excessive sick leave, which he said were reducing Germany's competitiveness, have drawn criticism.

The chancellor argued, for example, that the Swiss work more hours per year and are better off economically.

Merz also admitted that his governing coalition perhaps too often appears divisive and fails to present results sufficiently. The Conservatives are currently trailing the Alternative for Germany (AfD) in the polls.

(reuters, mja)