After weeks of inconclusive coalition negotiations, Germany’s Social Democratic Party (spd) and the Green Party have agreed to establish a minority government in North Rhine-Westphalia, the country’s largest and richest state. The June 17 decision takes its place on a growing heap of bad news for Chancellor Angela Merkel, as the move means her Christian Democratic Union (cdu) no longer holds the majority in Germany’s upper legislative chamber.

On May 9, the votes of North Rhine-Westphalia’s citizens communicated dissatisfaction with Merkel’s governing coalition, and revealed her federal popularity to be waning. Her ruling cdu received only 34.6 percent of the vote, 10 percent lower than its performance in the last state election in 2005. But neither the center-right not the center-left received a clear victory in the vote.

Now, following failed attempts at pairing the Greens and the Free Democratic Party and unsuccessful efforts to join the spd and cdu, the spd and the Green Party have cobbled together a minority government on their own. If the coalition successfully congeals, it will significantly alter the balance of power in the Bundesrat, Germany’s upper legislative chamber, erasing Merkel’s majority. This means that her already fractious coalition would have an even tougher task of passing legislation.

The cdu’s drop in popularity is attributed to the party’s involvement in a financial scandal, and growing disillusionment with Merkel’s overall performance in Berlin.

A Forsa poll published last Wednesday shows that the disillusionment is not limited to North Rhine-Westphalia. The poll showed that 47 percent of people from across Germany now want new elections, and that Merkel’s approval rating is at its lowest point since she was elected chancellor in 2005.

Europe is in the throes of its most severe financial crisis since the 1930s, and the German people are yearning for a strong, stable government that will improve Germany’s position on the Continent. The people of the country’s most populous and wealthy state have demonstrated their disapproval for the current leadership, and an increasing number of Germans are voicing the same dissatisfaction.

But Germany will not be content with replacing one shaky coalition with another. To understand more about the political tension swamping Berlin, and how it will be resolved, read “Germany: A New Government Imminent?”