Poll: 86 percent of Germans dissatisfied with government, Merkel's ratings slide

BERLIN – BERLIN (AP) — A new survey finds that 86 percent of Germans are dissatisfied with Angela Merkel's government and the chancellor's own popularity has hit a new low.

The ARD television poll Wednesday found only 12 percent satisfied with Merkel's center-right government — the worst showing for an administration since 2004.

It found 40 percent satisfied with Merkel, down eight points from the end of May and the lowest since she became chancellor in 2005.

Merkel started her second term in October with a new coalition that has looked increasingly shambolic — squabbling over proposed tax cuts that were then scrapped, among other issues.

ARD's poll of 1,000 people was conducted Monday and Tuesday. It gave a margin of error of plus or minus up to 3.1 points.