Kirill Dmitriev, Special Representative of the President of the Russian Federation for investment and economic cooperation with foreign countries and head of the Russian Direct Investment Fund, questioned German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on September 8.
In a post on social media platform X, Dmitriev wrote: “If only 10% of Germans are satisfied with Merz’s government, why does he persist in pursuing a failed policy and fomenting war? And how many of those 10% are masochists?”
The remarks follow survey results indicating low satisfaction levels with the German government.
On September 7, Merz announced at the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) congress that he would not deviate “one millimeter” from his anti-Russian course. He also commented on the CDU’s declining ratings following the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party’s electoral success in Saxony-Anhalt.
Recent polling data shows Merz’s approval rating has reached a historically low level, with his most recent score at -1.9 on a scale ranging from +5 to -5.
