Angela Merkel’s long-struggling conservatives have rebounded in the polls thanks to the government’s handling of the coronavirus crisis and widespread faith in the outgoing German chancellor’s ability to manage the upheaval. Shaking off years of record-low popularity, Merkel’s centre-right CDU/CSU bloc is now enjoying approval ratings of around 32 to 35 percent, some six to seven points higher than just a few weeks ago. It’s a surprise turn of events for Merkel’s Christian Democratic Union (CDU) which as recently as last month was riven by internal turmoil and debate over who would be the party’s chancellor candidate when Merkel bows out in 2021.