Germans unite in frustration as political crisis deepens ahead of reunification

On October 3, Germany marks 36 years since reunification, but the mood is one of deep unease. A survey of 1,303 eligible voters conducted by infratest dimap reveals a country fractured not just by geography but by confidence in its leadership. The numbers are stark: only one in ten respondents expressed satisfaction with Chancellor Friedrich Merz's federal government and his performance—a historic low. The coalition he leads, comprising the center-right Christian Democrats (CDU), their Bavarian sister party the Christian Social Union (CSU), and the center-left Social Democrats (SPD), has lost the public's trust at a moment when the country faces mounting pressures from artificial intelligence, Russian aggression, and the policies of U.S. President Donald Trump.

The political landscape has shifted dramatically in recent weeks. Three state elections held in September, two of them in eastern Germany, delivered a crushing verdict on Merz's party. In Saxony-Anhalt and Berlin, where the CDU had governed, the party lost roughly 10 percentage points and surrendered control. In Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, the CDU failed even to reach the 5% threshold required for parliamentary representation—an outcome without precedent in German electoral history. These results have accelerated Merz's declining approval ratings. Even among CDU voters themselves, only 40% say they remain satisfied with him.

If a general election were held today, the picture would be dire for the governing coalition. The CDU/CSU alliance would capture just 20% of the vote, among the lowest figures in the party's history and a precipitous fall from the 43.8% it won in 1990, the first election after reunification. The SPD would manage only 13%, leaving the two parties together with less than one-third of the electorate—far short of a majority. The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD), classified in part as extremist by the country's domestic intelligence agency, has emerged as the strongest political force, holding steady at 27% nationwide. The Greens have climbed to 16%, while the Left Party has fallen to 11%. Forming a governing majority under these conditions would be extraordinarily difficult.

The sources of German anxiety run deep and wide. Nearly nine in ten respondents expressed concern about the country's future, with only one in eight feeling optimistic. Two-thirds worry that humans could lose control of artificial intelligence. An equal proportion fear the consequences of Trump's policies for Germany. Just over half are concerned that Russia might attack other European nations. About half worry they cannot maintain their standard of living, and a similar number are anxious about immigration. Yet the single greatest source of concern—cited by more respondents than any other worry—is that political parties cannot find common ground on fundamental issues.

Germany's aging population presents a structural challenge that no election result can easily resolve. Fewer working people must support a growing number of retirees. The strain on the health care system is acute: the number of people requiring long-term care has nearly doubled since 2015, rising from 2.8 million to 6.5 million, with the trend continuing upward. Only one in six voters believes the federal government will successfully make the social security systems sustainable. The public is divided along ideological lines on how to proceed. Voters inclined toward left-leaning parties would accept higher social security contributions rather than benefit cuts; CDU/CSU and AfD voters prefer the opposite. Three-quarters of respondents view the government's proposed reforms as contradictory, complaining of mounting burdens despite promises of relief. Yet 61% say cuts should be scaled according to individual financial capacity, even if this places heavier burdens on some. The message to policymakers is unambiguous: reforms require explanation and fairness, or they will lose public acceptance.

Energy policy has become another flashpoint. High prices continue to weigh on households and the broader economy, worsened by ongoing turmoil in the Persian Gulf. Three-quarters of survey respondents said the government is not doing enough to address the crisis. On October 1, the federal government implemented a fuel discount, reducing the energy tax on gasoline and diesel by roughly 17 eurocents per liter through the end of the year. A similar measure in May and June cost the government €3.4 billion, much of which did not reach consumers because oil companies and gas station operators did not pass on the full savings. Experts view the approach skeptically, particularly because it subsidizes fossil fuels despite climate concerns. The public is equally unconvinced: half of those surveyed believe the fuel discount is the wrong policy.

The survey captures a nation grappling with questions it cannot easily answer. East Germans remain divided on reunification's personal impact—20% say it harmed them, 44% say it helped, and a quarter report no major change. West Germans are even more detached: more than half say reunification had little effect on their lives. What unites the country is frustration. The government's approval rating has collapsed. The far-right has consolidated support. Voters worry about forces beyond the nation's control—artificial intelligence, American policy, Russian military ambitions—while doubting their leaders can manage them. As Germany approaches the anniversary of its most defining modern moment, the question is no longer whether the country is divided, but whether its political system can still function.