Germany’s Merz stands his ground but for how long?
- Posted on September 20, 2026
- By Financial Times
- 1 Views
- 1 min read
In brief
Friedrich Merz faces mounting political pressure as Germany's chancellor navigates deepening unpopularity amid economic challenges and coalition tensions. Historical precedent from across Europe demonstrates that leaders who sink into negative public perception rarely regain political ground, raising questions about his administration's longevity and ability to implement key policy objectives before potential electoral consequences.
Summary auto-generated by AI from the original publisher's content. Editorial standards.
Germany’s Merz stands his ground but for how long?
Lessons from elsewhere in Europe suggest once leaders become deeply unpopular, they almost never recover
