Merkel Shaken by COVID-19 Crisis... Ruling Party Support Hits All-Time Low

As the third wave of COVID-19 persists, public dissatisfaction intensifies

Angela Merkel, Chancellor of Germany
[Photo by EPA Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Suhwan] The coalition of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and the Christian Social Union (CSU), the parties of German Chancellor Angela Merkel, has recorded its lowest approval rating ever ahead of the September elections.

According to the weekly opinion poll released on the 10th (local time) by Germany's Bild, the CDU/CSU coalition's approval rating dropped by 1 percentage point from the previous week to 23%, marking an all-time low.

The opposition Green Party maintains first place with a 26% approval rating, while the Social Democratic Party, currently part of the CDU/CSU-led coalition government, ranks third with 16%.

The recent decline in Chancellor Merkel's party approval ratings is analyzed to reflect public dissatisfaction with the government as the third wave of COVID-19, which began earlier this year, has yet to subside.

Earlier, during the initial outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic last year, swift contact tracing and an advanced healthcare system helped contain the virus spread early on, earning public support and pushing the ruling party's approval rating close to 40% in June last year.

However, the third wave starting earlier this year led to the government implementing increasingly strict quarantine measures daily, resulting in accumulated public fatigue and dissatisfaction, which in turn caused the drop in approval ratings. Criticism has also arisen over the government's excessive reliance on the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases, repeatedly tightening and loosening restrictions, causing confusion.

Vaccination rates are also reportedly lower than those of other European countries. According to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), Germany's vaccination rate for the second dose currently stands at 9.7%, which is lower than France (12.5%), Spain (13.8%), and Italy (13.2%).

Deutsche Welle pointed out, "The ruling party's approval rating is plummeting amid the COVID-19 crisis," and noted that "Germany is losing its way in the fight against the virus."