Germany's Political Stars Rise and Fall in Latest Personal Approval Rankings
The latest Politician Ranking survey reveals shifting approval ratings among Germany's leading political figures. Boris Pistorius (SPD) remains firmly at the top, while others experience notable gains or declines in personal popularity. The survey focuses on individual officeholders rather than party support, highlighting changes in public perception.
Boris Pistorius (SPD) continues to lead by a wide margin, scoring consistently between 5.8 and 5.9 points. His dominance is clear, with a current rating of 5.3 points—the highest among his peers. Meanwhile, Lars Klingbeil (SPD) has made the biggest leap, rising to 4th place with 3.9 points, reinforcing the SPD's strong presence in the top five.
Alexander Dobrindt (CSU) has fallen to 5th place, also with 3.9 points, marking him as the most high-profile loser in the upper rankings. Carsten Linnemann (CDU) is recovering ground, now in 9th place with 3.7 points, while Christian Dürr (FDP) has slipped to 10th with the same score.
Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) shows signs of stabilising after a long slump, climbing two places to 17th with 3.4 points. His personal popularity, however, remains weak. Recent polls from February 2026 show only 23% satisfaction (INSA, Forsa), a net approval of -28 (Ipsos July), and a sympathy score of -0.7 (Politbarometer). These figures place him behind Boris Pistorius (2.0) and Bärbel Bas (0.3), though he fares better than Alice Weidel (-2.6).
The far-right AfD's leaders, Alice Weidel and Tino Chrupalla, continue to struggle in personal approval, lingering near the bottom of the rankings. Sahra Wagenknecht (BSW) also sees a decline, now in 15th place with 3.4 points.
The survey underscores Pistorius's sustained lead and the SPD's overall strength in public approval. Merz's slight recovery contrasts with his ongoing low ratings, while figures like Klingbeil and Linnemann show shifting fortunes. The results reflect individual performance rather than broader party trends, offering a snapshot of current political sentiment.
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