Merkel's Popularity Drops to Four-Year Low After Cologne Attacks

Merkel’s popularity is at its lowest point since October 2011, when Europe was in turmoil over efforts to keep Greece in the euro area, according to a FG Wahlen poll commissioned by public broadcaster ZDF. Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble, a member of Merkel’s Christian Democratic Union, topped the list as Germany’s most popular politician.

Merkel’s Christian Democratic-led bloc slipped two percentage points from last month to 37 percent in the poll published Friday, while Alternative for Germany, or AfD, a party that opposes migration, climbed two points to 11 percent. The AfD, which was formed after the last national election in 2013, doesn’t have seats in the German parliament.

Merkel faces pressure within her party bloc to take stronger measures to limit the inflow of asylum seekers after a record 1.1 million arrivals last year. Her approval rating remains above lows she reached during Europe’s debt crisis in 2010 and 2011, from which she rebounded to win a third term in 2013 .... http://www.bloomberg.com