Wüst overtakes Merz: Age of political upheaval in North Rhine-Westphalia?

Wüst overtakes Merz: Age of political upheaval in North Rhine-Westphalia?

A surprising survey boost for Hendrik Wüst, the Prime Minister of North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW)! A current survey shows that Wüst is clearly ahead in North Rhine-Westphalia with an approval rating of 38 percent, while Chancellor Friedrich Merz can only claim 30 percent. The gap of 8 percentage points is a clear signal for the political landscape in Germany. [Bild] reports that the SPD with 17 percent, the AfD with 16 percent, the Greens with 13 percent and the Left with 7 percent also have to be in the editorial team based on these figures.

The satisfaction ratings show a two-part picture: 37 percent of NRW citizens are satisfied with the work of the Merz-led federal government, but at the same time 56 percent feel the opposite. Things look better at Wüst: 49 percent of citizens rate the black-green state government positively, only 43 percent are dissatisfied. Professor Volker Kronenberg from the University of Bonn emphasizes that Wüst hits the right note and receives broader approval than Merz, who is met with reservations in his own camp.

A difficult standing for Merz

Friedrich Merz, who is considered the favorite for the Union's candidacy for chancellor, faces a number of hurdles. Political scientist Thomas Biebricher points to the upcoming state elections in Brandenburg, Saxony and Thuringia in 2024, which could significantly influence the debate about the candidacy for chancellor. The question of how well the CDU can assert itself against the AfD is becoming increasingly pressing. [Merkur] reports that Wüst may be positioned as the legitimate successor to Angela Merkel and therefore needs to be taken seriously.

Wüst is 49 years old and is often seen as a key challenger to Merz. In another survey, he has already won 36 percent of voter preferences, while Merz only has 28 percent. The picture is also clear in North Rhine-Westphalia: Wüst has an approval rating of 46 percent, while Merz only has 29 percent. This could indicate that Wüst has a good hand when it comes to winning over voters.

Uncertain local elections

As the political winds change, the SPD also has to worry about its voting power. Before the local elections on September 14, 2024, the party only achieved a low approval rating of 13 percent for its parliamentary group leader Jochen Ott. To make matters worse, 60 percent of those eligible to vote cannot even form an opinion about Ott because they don't know him. These results present the party with a major challenge.

This means that political events in North Rhine-Westphalia remain exciting. There are signs of possible changes, both within the CDU and in the rivalry against the SPD and the emerging AfD. In the end, everything could depend on how well the respective candidates, especially Wüst and Merz, can convey their messages and concerns to voters in the coming months. [Dawum] also takes a look at the various coalition options in North Rhine-Westphalia and points out that the combination of the CDU and the Greens would currently have a majority if the composition remained that way.