...

Logo Pasino du Havre - Casino-Hôtel - Spa
in partnership with
Logo Nextory

Why Friedrich Merz cannot fully celebrate his first 100 days as German chancellor

• Aug 10, 2025, 5:58 PM
4 min de lecture
1

The international agenda has hardly given German Chancellor Friedrich Merz a breather this summer. Almost every day, Germany's position has to be coordinated with its European partners - such as on Russia's war on Ukraine or Israel's against Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

Most recently, Friedrich Merz was even heavily criticised within his own ranks. Apparently, the Chancellor had not discussed the decision to suspend the export of weapons that Israel could use in the war in Gaza with his sister party, the CSU. The majority of people in Germany are in favour of limiting arms exports to Israel, which the SPD had also spoken out in favour of, but the single-handed decision caused displeasure.

The Left and the Greens criticised Merz's partial ban on arms exports as being "too little, too late" - in view of the suffering of the people in the Gaza Strip.

Now - days after the decision - Friedrich Merz wants to justify it in a TV interview on public broadcaster ARD's Tagesschau programme.

Following fierce criticism from some conservative members of parliament, Merz's foreign policy adviser Günter Sautter was also due to hold a video call with CDU and CSU foreign policy experts this Sunday in order to calm the waters. Friedrich Merz is not only Federal Chancellor, but has also been Chairman of the CDU since 2022.

Only 28 % satisfied with the government in recent poll

The polls do not look good for the black-red coalition. According to the ARD Deutschlandtrend , 69 per cent of respondents in Germany are dissatisfied with the work of the federal government. Only 28 per cent are satisfied in the Infratest-Dimap survey.

Satisfaction with the German federal government

This is hardly surprising to seasoned pundits: a majority of Germans (61%) do not consider the new chancellor's communication style to be convincing, with only 34% viewing it positively. In addition, only 26% cent of respondents believe that Merz is someone who can be trusted.

The summer break in Berlin had already officially begun when the federal government launched more than 20 bills at its meeting on 6 August: from the pension package to new regulations on small savings, on gas prices and on the Germany Ticket for rail and other public transport.

Not focussing enough on people's concerns?

The coalition dispute over the appointment of new judges to the Constitutional Court in Karlsruhe has stirred up the political scene in Berlin. The failure of CDU parliamentary group leader Jens Spahn to keep his own ranks together raised doubts about his suitability for the post. According to reports, the criticism of the SPD's proposed judge Frauke Brosius-Gersdorf was also orchestrated by right-wing populist circles on social media.

Minister of State for Culture Wolfram Weimer now wants to ban gendering (i.e. asterisks or other special characters for female persons) not only in his ministry, but also in public broadcasting. This has not only been criticised by the media; many in Germany consider the policy of paternalism to be a concept of the past.

In times of Donald Trump's punitive tariffs, people are worried about the economy in Germany and their personal financial situation. The positive effects of the announced massive investments in infrastructure and digitalisation have yet to materialise. It's not only the construction work at Deutsche Bahn that is taking years, seems to be the general impression.


Today

Wildfire near Madrid kills one as fires burn across Spain
• 9:33 AM
3 min
The fire was brought under control overnight, after a blaze in the Tres Cantos area killed one person and prompted evacuations, the authorities said.<div class="small-12 column text-center article__button"><a href="https://www.euronews.com/2025/08/12/wild
Read the article
Spain orders town to drop Muslim community religious gathering ban
• 9:29 AM
6 min
The ban, which affects Muslims celebrating religious holidays in sports centres in the southeastern town of Jumilla, has been challenged by Madrid.<div class="small-12 column text-center article__button"><a href="https://www.euronews.com/2025/08/12/spain-
Read the article
Injured elephant repeatedly visits Indian village for food and water
• 8:34 AM
1 min
An elephant with a leg injury has been making daily visits to a village on the outskirts of Assam in northeast India, searching for food and water.<div class="small-12 column text-center article__button"><a href="https://www.euronews.com/2025/08/12/injure
Read the article
Public swimming in Seine proves popular in French capital
• 8:05 AM
1 min
Thousands of people have been swimming in the River Seine since Paris opened three public bathing sites last month, the first in more than a century.<div class="small-12 column text-center article__button"><a href="https://www.euronews.com/2025/08/12/publ
Read the article
Trump's election paved way for Israeli attacks on Iran - sources
• 5:01 AM
9 min
Israel had long planned an attack on Iran but delayed it until several factors aligned: Donald Trump’s election in the US, the conclusion of a 60-day period of nuclear negotiations, and specific Iranian attacks.<div class="small-12 column text-center arti
Read the article
Latest news bulletin | August 12th, 2025 – Morning
• 5:00 AM
1 min
Catch up with the most important stories from around Europe and beyond this August 12th, 2025 - latest news, breaking news, World, Business, Entertainment, Politics, Culture, Travel.<div class="small-12 column text-center article__button"><a href="https:/
Read the article
More than 2,000 people evacuated from Spanish resort of Tarifa over advancing wildfire
• 4:59 AM
4 min
Despite the efforts of emergency teams to control the fire that has been raging across some areas in southern Spain, authorities have been forced to order the eviction of several houses in the municipality of Tarifa near Cadiz.<div class="small-12 column
Read the article
Trump says he’ll know if Putin wants a peace deal with Ukraine in their meeting
• 4:39 AM
6 min
Without elaborating, Trump reiterated that land exchanges might be a part of any significant agreement.<div class="small-12 column text-center article__button"><a href="https://www.euronews.com/2025/08/12/trump-says-hell-know-if-putin-wants-a-peace-deal-w
Read the article
Two people dead, 10 others injured in explosion at US Steel plant in Pennsylvania
• 4:15 AM
6 min
The plant, a massive industrial facility along the Monongahela River south of Pittsburgh, is considered the largest coking operation in North America and is one of four major US Steel plants in Pennsylvania.<div class="small-12 column text-center article_
Read the article