BERLIN, Marc 21. /TASS/. The overwhelming majority of Germans believe that Chancellor-in-waiting Friedrich Merz’s budget reform plan doesn’t align with his pre-election promises, according to an opinion poll conducted by the Mannheim pollster for the ZDF television channel.
Thus, 73% of those polled answered in the affirmative when asked whether they think that accusations that Merz and his conservative bloc of Christian Democratic Union and Christian Social Union (CDU/CSU) misled voters are justified. While only 44% of the polled CDU/CSU supporters shared this opinion, other parties were much more negative in their reaction - 96% among supporters of the Alternative for Germany (AfD), and 97% among supporters of the Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance - Reason and Justice (BSW).
Still, most voters support the idea of reforming the budgetary rule and establishing a fund for infrastructure investments. Sixty-four percent of the respondents supported lifting restrictions on financing defense spending and 54% were in favor of establishing a 500-billion-euro infrastructure fund.
The poll also revealed that the German people are skeptical about Merz as a potential chancellor. Only 37% think that he is fit for this role while 53% think the opposite. The respondents were divided concerning Merz’s prospects as chancellor. Thus, 45% said they are optimistic that he will govern effectively, whereas 44% don’t think he will be able to do his job well.
Earlier this week, Germany’s parliament amended its constitution to loosen the so-called debt brake, a rule that limits the amount of debt the government can take on. The move comes amid a push to increase defense spending and set up a 500-billion-euro special infrastructure fund. The initiative was put forward by CDU/CSU and their potential coalition allies, despite their campaign rhetoric when they strongly rejected lifting upper limits for government borrowings.
The poll was conducted on March 18 through 20 among 1,300 Germans older than 18. The margin of error is within 3 p.p.