Merz's Position Weakens as CDU Support Slips

Speculation is growing in Germany over a possible replacement for Chancellor Friedrich Merz, just over a year into his tenure, as support for his Christian Democratic Union (CDU) has fallen to 23% while the anti-immigration Alternative for Germany (AfD) has climbed to 28%.

Despite Merz's pledges to curb the AfD's rise, public sentiment has soured amid high energy prices and coalition tensions with the Social Democrats. According to the Financial Times, North Rhine-Westphalia's minister-president Hendrik Wüst is increasingly being discussed as a potential successor. Wüst's standing has risen following a well-received visit to Poland, and he placed third in recent popularity polls while Merz ranked last, with fewer than one in five citizens expressing satisfaction with his performance.

Merz's inner circle has dismissed the succession debate as "absurd" and "dangerous", but pressure within the CDU is mounting. Wüst is widely seen as a more flexible option, in part because of his experience leading a coalition with the Greens. He has not announced any candidacy.

(ft, est)