Public Discontent Soars as Merz Government Faces Crisis
Chancellor Friedrich Merz's government in Germany is facing significant public dissatisfaction, with a recent Deutschlandtrend survey indicating that 84% of respondents are unhappy with its performance, marking the highest level of discontent since he took office in May 2025. Approval ratings for Merz and Vice Chancellor Lars Klingbeil have plummeted to 21% and 18%, respectively, while the ruling coalition's parties, the CDU/CSU and SPD, have lost ground, currently polling at 26% and 12%. Amid ongoing economic stagnation and concerns over rising energy prices due to the war in Iran, 70% of citizens express distrust in the government's ability to implement necessary reforms.
EU Finance Ministers Propose Windfall Tax on Energy Firms
Finance ministers from Germany, Italy, Spain, Portugal, and Austria have formally requested the European Commission to implement a bloc-wide windfall profit tax on energy companies benefiting from the surge in prices due to the ongoing conflict in Iran. The ministers highlighted that EU oil and gas firms are generating an estimated additional €81.4 million per day, totaling approximately €2.5 billion for March alone, and called for swift action to ensure fair distribution of these profits to alleviate the financial burden on consumers. The proposal echoes a previous EU emergency measure from 2022, which raised €28.66 billion to support vulnerable households during the energy crisis following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
