The cabinet of German Chancellor Olaf Scholz (63, SPD) is not very popular in Germany. This is the result of a survey by the INSA market research institute for the “Bild” newspaper (1002 respondents). Two Green politicians are the most popular, above all Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock (41). According to the INSA survey, half of Germans are satisfied with Baerbock’s work. Economics Minister Robert Habeck (52, Greens) followed in second place with 46 percent.
The staff of the SPD received predominantly bad values. 53 percent of Germans are “dissatisfied” with Health Minister Karl Lauterbach, and there is also great dissatisfaction with Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht (SPD, 50 percent) and Interior Minister Nancy Faeser (SPD, 43 percent).
Approval for Chancellor Olaf Scholz (63, SPD) is also becoming noticeably lower. According to the INSA survey, 49 percent are dissatisfied with the work of Olaf Scholz (SPD) (satisfied: 38 percent) – a negative record in Scholz’s tenure so far. Overall, a whopping 55 percent are dissatisfied with the federal government and only 35 percent are satisfied.
Disagreements between the SPD chancellor and the Greens came to light over the delivery of heavy weapons to Ukraine: while the Greens – and Baerbock – support them, Scholz is still on the brakes today. Apparently the Germans resent that, as other survey results show.
What is increasingly becoming the SPD’s undoing is its close cooperation with Putin over the past 20 years. For years, current and former SPD politicians have campaigned for close cooperation with Moscow, and have effectively ignored all warnings, especially from Ukraine, but also from Poland and the Baltic States. In addition, according to military experts, Ukraine needs heavy weapons right now, but Scholz is hesitant.
All of this obviously annoys the Germans. According to INSA, 57 percent are calling for a committee of inquiry in the Bundestag to investigate German politicians’ relations with Russia (only 30 percent are against). 60 percent view the SPD’s Russia-friendly policies as critical, and only 13 percent support their stance.
