Friedrich Merz, who took office as German chancellor in May 2025 leading a CDU-SPD coalition, faces sustained pressure following sharp CDU losses in September 2026 state elections, including falling below the 5% threshold in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern and trailing in Berlin. His personal approval ratings have hovered near historic lows around 10-14%, amid voter dissatisfaction with economic performance, living costs, and the coalition's reform progress on taxes, pensions, and bureaucracy. The far-right AfD has gained strongly in eastern states, while coalition partners have shown public unity in early October talks aimed at advancing stalled legislation. No formal leadership challenge has emerged within the CDU, and structural barriers limit mid-term removal without agreement on a successor. Upcoming state elections in 2027 and ongoing coalition negotiations remain key variables for any shift in his tenure.