Four years after she left the world stage, a quiet but persistent question is being whispered across Germany: What if Merkel came back?
A recent poll by the German Civey Institute has uncovered a fascinating and somewhat unexpected sentiment brewing in the national psyche. The survey, conducted for the Funke media group, reveals that one in four Germans now longs for the return of former Chancellor Angela Merkel.
This nostalgia isn't just a murmur from her old political home. It’s a phenomenon defying traditional political lines, painting a picture of a leader whose appeal has been reshaped in her absence.
The Loyalty Flip: Greens, Leftists, and the Young Lead the Charge
In a striking political twist, the deepest pangs of longing for "Mutti" (Mother) are felt not among her longtime conservative allies, but on the other side of the aisle.
A remarkable 61% of those who plan to vote for the Left party said they miss her.
Among supporters of the Green party, the figure stands at a solid 52%.
Meanwhile, within her own former party, the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), only 22% expressed this sentiment, and just 34% of the Social Democrats (SPD) did. It seems that from a distance, Merkel's steady, pragmatic centrism is now more cherished by her former opponents than by her original base.
The Generational and Urban Divide
The poll also sketches a clear demographic profile of who misses Merkel most.
The Young: She is significantly more popular among the youth. One in three Germans aged 18-29 said they feel her absence. This generation, which came of age under her leadership, seems to view her era as one of stability.
The Old: In contrast, only 19% of those over 65 share this nostalgia.
The City Dwellers: The "Merkel missing" effect grows stronger in urban areas. The more metropolitan the region, the more people yearn for the former chancellor, suggesting her legacy is tied to the modern, cosmopolitan Germany she helped shape.
A Shadow on the Stage?
Yet, not everyone is welcoming this post-retirement sentiment. The article hints at a growing tension. Johannes Winkel, head of the CDU's youth wing, recently voiced a criticism that is likely shared by others trying to forge a new path for the party.
He told Der Spiegel it was "strange how often she intervenes in day-to-day politics," and that many in the union were "annoyed" by it. It seems that for some, the long shadow of the 16-year chancellor is making it harder for her successors to find the light.
Merkel handed the reins to Olaf Scholz in December 2021, leaving behind a nation she led for a generation. Today, the poll suggests her political afterlife is just as intriguing as her tenure. She has transformed from a sitting chancellor into a symbol—a benchmark for stability for some, and a reminder of a different era for others. The real question now is not if she will return, but why her absence is being felt so powerfully, and by such an unlikely coalition of Germans.