ARD-Deutschlandtrend survey: Germans unite in frustration over the government
On the 36th anniversary of reunification, Germans are dissatisfied with the country's political leaders. They don't believe they'll be able to handle the challenges posed by AI, Russia and Donald Trump.
Ahead of Germany's 1990 reunification, a poll found 20% of East Germans and 44% of West Germans saw advantages. However, only a quarter felt no major impact, with over half reporting no impact in West Germany and the other half split between positive and negative effects. State elections in September, seen as tests of nationwide sentiment, dealt a blow to Chancellor Friedrich Merz's center-right Christian Democrats.
The CDU saw a 10% drop in Saxony-Anhalt and Berlin, losing power, and failed to cross the 5% threshold in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania for the first time. Merz's support fell further, with only 40% of CDU supporters satisfied with his performance. The ruling coalition of CDU, CSU, and SPD is unpopular, with just one in ten respondents satisfied with the federal government's work and Chancellor Merz's performance.
The Alternative for Germany (AfD), classified as far-right extremist, benefits from voter dissatisfaction. If a general election were held now, the CDU/CSU alliance would win only 20% of the vote, a historic low. The SPD polls at 13%, and together the ruling parties would not win one-third of the vote. The AfD remains the strongest force, polling at 27%, while the Greens rise to 16% and the socialist Left Party drops to 11%.
With only one in eight people optimistic, most Germans are concerned about issues like artificial intelligence control, US President Donald Trump's policies, climate change, and potential Russian attacks. The biggest source of concern is the inability of political parties to find common answers to key issues. Germany's aging population strains the health care system, with long-term care needs rising from 2.8 million to 6.5 million since 2015.
Only one in six voters believes the federal government can make social security systems sustainable. Reforms are viewed as contradictory, with three-quarters of respondents fearing increased burdens, despite promises of relief. Sixty-one percent believe cuts should be based on individual financial capacity, while half would accept cuts if explained better.
The welfare state and health care system are seen as Germany's key achievements, but high energy prices continue to burden citizens and the economy. The government's efforts to address high energy prices are insufficient, with three-quarters of respondents believing so. A fuel discount has been extended until year-end, reducing energy tax on gasoline and diesel by about 17 eurocents per liter.
Written by urgent.news from DW News's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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