Support for German Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s three-party government has plummeted to its lowest level since coming to power in late 2021, with political in-fighting and faltering efforts on the clean-energy transition dragging on voter sentiment in Europe’s largest economy.
Public dissatisfaction with Scholz’s Social Democrats, the environmentalist Greens and the business-friendly Free Democrats has peaked at an all-time high of 70%, according to a INSA poll published by the Sunday edition of Bild newspaper. Less than 40% of those surveyed - a record low - said they would support one of the three parties in a current election, with more voters saying they would support the anti-migrant, climate-skeptic AfD than Scholz’s SPD.
Public discontent over inflation, record immigration and costly climate-protection measures have weighed on Scholz’s coalition for months. In-fighting and finger-pointing have stalled the alliance’s ability to progress on its ambitious agenda to decarbonize the economy, particularly in the face of higher energy costs and rising support for the anti-establishment AfD.
Read more: Scholz’s Stumbling Coalition Hit With Blow by Court Rebuke
Scholz has taken pains to stay positive, not just in the face of nagging political discontent but also as Germany grapples with a rapidly aging population and a dearth of skilled labor, particularly in tech, healthcare and childcare jobs. Concerns about the acute worker shortage in key sectors belie an enormous inflow of migrants that accelerated after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and has reignited societal debates over integration and border policy.
On Sunday, the chancellor took another swing at the AfD, asserting that foreign workers will be key to Germany’s future economic success.
“We need men and women from other countries as well to lend a hand,” Scholz said during a speech at a German drugstore chain anniversary event. “We want to attract those to the German labor market who want to pitch in here in our stores, our hospitals, daycare centers and companies.”
(Adds details from Scholz speech at Sunday event)
