For a week, speculation has been rife in the German media about a possible replacement of Friedrich Merz, 70, by one of the most powerful Christian Democratic barons, Hendrik Wüst, 50, head of government of the most populous region of the country.
Polls increasingly disastrous, and now rumors about his possible replacement: Chancellor Friedrich Merz appears considerably weakened against a backdrop of sluggish growth, he who had promised to put Germany back on track when he came to power a year ago. Only 14% of Germans say they are satisfied with his work, according to the latest poll by the Forsa institute, which makes him the most unpopular leader in post-war Germany.
In voting intentions, his conservative camp (his CDU party and the Bavarian sister party CSU) is now left behind by the far right, according to the same institute: 22% against 27%. A failure for the one who wanted “regain trust” voters seduced by the AfD. For a week, speculation has been rife in the German media on a possible replacement of Friedrich Merz, 70, by one of the most powerful Christian Democratic barons, Hendrik Wüst, 50, head of government of North Rhine-Westphalia, the most populous region of the country with 18 million inhabitants.
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“A replacement chancellor”
Questioned on Friday during a regular press briefing in Berlin, government spokesperson Stefan Kornelius refused to comment on «spéculations». Mr. Kornelius would not say whether Mr. Merz had had recent contact with Mr. Wüst, indicating however that he would attend a CDU rally in the region in question on Monday. The weekly Stern was the first to broach the idea of change, saying: “And suddenly Hendrik Wüst is considered a replacement chancellorâ€.
In this article, the magazine mentioned the latter’s trip to Poland where he allegedly showed himself “very worried about the political situation in Germany”. The scenario of a victory for the far right in two regional elections in the east of the country in September is increasingly realistic. In the following days, most major media outlets reported on this possible change at the head of the country. In theory possible without organizing new legislative elections, a change of chancellor – who is elected by the deputies of the Bundestag – would be complicated, according to experts.
