In Germany, the ratings of Chancellor Olaf Scholz and the ruling “traffic light” coalition fell to their lowest level since the government began in December. Nearly two-thirds of Germans – 62 percent – are dissatisfied with Scholz’s work and only 25 percent are satisfied with his results, according to a survey published on Sunday, August 21, by the sociological institute Insa commissioned by the weekly Bild am Sonntag.

The ruling coalition’s rating also dropped to a record low. The federal government’s work is now dissatisfied with 65% of those surveyed, and only 27% approve of it. At the beginning of March, Scholz’s work was still approved by 46% of Germans, disapproved by 39%. The ruling coalition’s work was then approved by 44% and disapproved by 43% of Germans.

Only third place in case of direct elections

It follows from the poll that, in the event of a direct election of the chancellor, Olaf Scholz would now only be in third place, winning 18% of the vote. First place would go to Green Economy Minister Robert Habeck with 25 percent and second place to Christian Democratic Union President Friedrich Merz with 19 percent.

According to the results of the weekly poll, the CDU/CSU bloc of Christian parties has slightly strengthened its positions, now it is supported by 28% of Germans (plus one percent). That means the CDU/CSU is now seven percent ahead of the Greens, whose ratings have dropped from one percent to 21 percent in one week.

Social Democrats’ rankings have not changed (19%), Free Democrats have dropped one percentage point to 8%. This means that the “traffic light” coalition parties would now receive only 48% of the vote. The Alternative for Germany (12%) and Left Party (8%) rankings remained unchanged.