Merz Holds Second Summer Press Conference as Chancellor in Berlin

Despite these parliamentary successes, public assessment remains subdued. In the RTL/ntv "Trendbarometer," 82 percent of those surveyed expressed dissatisfaction with the government's work; only 18 percent said they were satisfied. A YouGov survey of 2,230 eligible voters also found that 80 percent of Germans do not see the federal government strengthened by the reforms; only ten percent see it strengthened, while 33 percent see no difference.

Reforms Passed, Assessment Subdued

The chancellor's personal ratings are also poor. In the same Trendbarometer, 85 percent of those surveyed were dissatisfied with Merz's work, and only 14 percent were satisfied. 47 percent of respondents said the black-red coalition is going into the summer break weakened. The coalition itself, by contrast, sees itself confirmed by the reform decisions.

Merz had dismissed criticism of the reform course with a self-confident statement aimed at so-called "cultural pessimists." He said: „Kulturpessimisten, Untergangspropheten, Nöler, Nörgler, empörte Berufskritiker: wegtreten! Wir gehen mit Zuversicht und Optimismus an die Arbeit und wir bringen unser Land wieder auf das Level, auf das wir es verdient haben." He also declared: „Wir treten Stück für Stück den Beweis an, dass wir eine wirkliche Reformkoalition sind für Deutschland."

Substantive Focus of the Press Conference

The coalition committee had previously agreed on a reform package that provides for tax relief for small and medium incomes from 2027, changes in labor law, and further bureaucracy reduction. In addition, the recommendations of the Pension Commission are to be fully implemented. Nevertheless, the Union and SPD had gone into the parliamentary summer break in disagreement.

The press conference itself was scheduled without any thematic guidelines for the questions. In addition to the reform package, the state elections in three federal states in September, the war against Ukraine, and the conflict between the USA and Iran are expected as topics. In Saxony-Anhalt, the AfD has a chance of an absolute majority and could for the first time provide a Minister-President.

In the foreign policy section, the federal government announced that Germany will not participate in the maneuvers of the "Coalition of the Willing" in support of Ukraine. Two Bundeswehr ships are, according to government information, stationed in Djibouti, ready to clear mines in the Strait of Hormuz as the situation develops.

Foreign Policy and Franco-German Consultations

On Thursday, Merz will meet French President Emmanuel Macron at Bensberg Palace near Cologne. The meeting serves to prepare for the Franco-German Ministerial Council on Friday in Brühl. Unlike after his first summer press conference in July 2025, which still fell during a severe coalition crisis, Merz will not be traveling on vacation immediately afterwards.

CSU Calls for Eight-Year Model

At the same time, the CSU is increasing pressure for a longer joint term in government. CSU parliamentary group leader Alexander Hoffmann spoke out in a dpa interview in favor of designing the model of a joint legislative period for the Union and SPD to last eight years: „Und dieses Modell sollte dann sinnigerweise auf acht Jahre angelegt sein." Hoffmann accused the Greens of conducting the reform debate "auch mit populistischen Unterstellungen" and denied them the will to reform.

Hoffmann justified his appeal for stability by arguing that the need for reform can only be met by a stable center coalition, and he saw this capability exclusively with the Union and SPD. He pointed out that the Greens had tried to have the health insurance reform stopped at the Federal Constitutional Court. The first summer press conference as chancellor in July 2025 had lasted about 90 minutes and had likewise fallen during an acute coalition crisis.

Wednesday's press conference is therefore likely to be regarded above all as a litmus test of whether Merz can counter the poor poll numbers and growing dissatisfaction in the country with a self-confident government message. Observers expect him to defend the reform course while also marking the campaign launch toward the state elections in September.