Deeply unpopular German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has acknowledged impatience as a personal shortcoming during his first year in office.
In an interview with public broadcaster ZDF airing on Wednesday, Merz was asked to complete the sentence: “My biggest mistake in my first year in office was …”.
His reply: “Perhaps being too impatient.”
Merz, leader of Germany’s conservative camp, has come under mounting domestic pressure as support for his government plummets. Wednesday marked a year in office.
A recent survey by the Forsa polling institute found only 11% of German voters reported being satisfied with the coalition's work, while 87% were dissatisfied.
Communication issues have also plagued him, including in his dealings with US President Donald Trump, who recently lashed out at Merz and urged him to fix his “broken country.”
Asked whether the remarks had damaged ties, Merz played down the impact. “I don’t see it that way; we have a disagreement, but I can live with that,” he said.
Trump’s criticism was likely triggered by comments Merz made in late April on the US military campaign against Iran. Speaking to schoolchildren, he said: “An entire nation is being humiliated by the Iranian leadership.”
In the interview, the chancellor said he was not concerned with appeasing Trump. “I remain committed to a good trans-Atlantic relationship, even if we disagree on the matter.”
Acknowledging criticism at home
On the domestic front, Merz also conceded he could understand criticism over his handling of a public exchange with a woman who said she was suffering from cancer, an encounter in which he was seen by some as cold and aloof.
The woman criticized a supposed increase in the chancellor’s salary while austerity measures were affecting the public. Merz responded that a pay rise for members of the federal government had “at no point” been considered.
Reflecting on the incident, Merz said he had not snapped at the woman, “but I contradicted her on a claim she made that was simply wrong.”
He added that, having reviewed the recording, he could understand why his response had drawn criticism.
