Merz ends first year as most unpopular German chancellor in post-war history

When German Chancellor Friedrich Merz was elected in February of last year, he warned the political mainstream that it was “five minutes to midnight” before outside parties consumed the nation’s center.

Exactly a year since taking office, it seems those five minutes have passed — centrist Merz is suffering the lowest approval rating of any chancellor in the nation’s post-war history, and his most feared opponents are eating up the electorate.