46 percent of citizens consider the CDU/CSU parliamentary group leader and CDU leader Friedrich Merz to be a strong leader, 52 percent to be competent. 63 percent find that he speaks clearly. That was the result of a Forsa survey for the star. When the same characteristics were asked for Chancellor Olaf Scholz a week earlier, only 25 percent said he was a good leader and 46 percent said he was competent. 48 percent said that Scholz spoke clearly.

But the chancellor is not behind the opposition leader in all of the values ​​asked: Scholz is considered trustworthy by at least 41 percent of citizens, while Merz is only 30 percent. 43 percent find Scholz likeable, only 24 percent say that about Merz.

There is one point where both are equal, and that should give them and their parties pause. It doesn't matter whether Scholz or Merz was asked: only 33 percent said that they knew what moves people.

The data on Friedrich Merz was collected by the market and opinion research institute forsa for the RTL Germany Group on January 26 and 27, 2023. Database: 1,001 respondents. Statistical error tolerance: /- 3 percentage points.

The data on Olaf Scholz was collected by the market and opinion research institute forsa for the RTL Germany Group on January 19 and 20, 2023. Database: 1,002 respondents. Statistical error tolerance: /- 3 percentage points.