Germans unhappy with government performance, fear Russia will attack other countries and overwhelming majority support recognition of Palestine, poll finds
Chancellor Friedrich Merz has spoken of a turnaround in Germany after his election victory and a new impetus for economic development. When he took office in May, he said that it would take just 100 days to see this change. But many citizens in Germany are also dissatisfied with this government. According to the latest survey for “Deutschlandtrend”, commissioned by the German public broadcaster ARD, only one in five Germans is satisfied with the work of Chancellor Merz’s government.
If elections were held this Sunday, Merz’s Christian Democrats and their coalition partners, the Social Democrats, would no longer have a majority. In other polls, the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party has already taken first place. According to Deutschlandtrend, the AfD is in joint first place with the Christian Democrats, each with 26 percent. The SPD is much weaker with only 14 percent, the Greens would have 12 percent and the Left 10 percent.
THE REUNIFICATION OF GERMANY
October 3, 2025 also marked the 35th anniversary of German reunification. This survey naturally also includes a question about this anniversary. In the east of the country, only one in two people (around half) think that reunification has had a positive impact, while in the west, two-thirds of people think so. East Germans specifically mention freedom of movement as an advantage, while democracy and political freedoms are highlighted as a major achievement by only one in five. As expected, they negatively assess the gap in prosperity and development that still exists between the east and west of the country. In both parts of the country, dissatisfaction with the way democracy works in Germany today prevails. In the west, 53 percent are dissatisfied, in the east even up to 67 percent.
NATO AND RUSSIA
Following recent Russian violations of NATO airspace by aircraft and drones, up to two-thirds of Germans fear that Russia could attack another country in Europe. More than half (54 percent) believe that NATO should respond decisively to Russia, while 34 percent prefer restraint. AfD voters, two-thirds of whom are not worried that Russia will spread its aggression to other countries, are most in favor of restraint.
FOR THE RECOGNITION OF PALESTINE
Next week (October 7) marks the second anniversary of Hamas’s terrorist attack on Israel. A majority of German citizens (63 percent) disapprove of the way Israel responded militarily, describing it as excessive. Only 15 percent believe that such a response is appropriate, while six percent even think that the Israeli action is not tough enough. 55 percent of respondents are in favor of recognizing the independence of Palestine, 20 percent are against. Also, 55 percent believe that Germany should support the European Commission’s plan to remove trade and customs privileges for Israel.
On the other hand, two-thirds of respondents think that Israeli artists and athletes should not be punished for the actions of their authorities, for example by being excluded from Eurosong or UEFA football competitions.
What happened on October 7th and everything that happened after it has also had an impact on German society – the number of anti-Semitic incidents has increased in Germany. The majority of citizens believe that the fight against anti-Semitism should not be relaxed. 40 percent of them believe that even stronger efforts should be made. In November 2023, immediately after the Hamas attack, this percentage was 56 percent. Around 35 percent of citizens think that enough is being done to combat anti-Semitism, while 10 percent think that too much is being done. (DW)