Manfred Güllner, head of the Forsa polling institute, condemns Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s leadership as ‘unprecedentedly poor’.

Güllner highlights Merz’s significant drop in approval ratings, noting that he ranks last in recent politician surveys and has failed to connect with key demographics.

Despite the CDU’s current struggles, Güllner believes there is potential for a 45% voter base, suggesting that a successful pension reform could alleviate dissatisfaction with Merz’s government.