Poll points to widespread dissatisfaction with new German government after faltering start

Poll shows dissatisfaction with German government

BERLIN — A new poll shows that German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s new center-right government faces wide public dissatisfaction after a stumbling start that has been dominated by squabbling over planned tax cuts.

The ARD television poll, released Thursday night, found that only 28 percent of respondents were satisfied with the government’s work, and 67 percent were either “less satisfied” or altogether unhappy.

The conservative Merkel started her second term Oct. 28, heading a new coalition with the pro-business Free Democrats that aimed to focus energetically on stimulating the recovery of Europe’s biggest economy.

Instead, there has been constant public bickering, in particular over the wisdom of launching big income tax cuts next year.