Demokratie in der Vertrauenskrise

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Persistently pessimistic mood

Germans’ trust in democracy remains low. After the 2024 European elections, only 46 per cent said they had great or very great trust in democracy. A narrow majority of 51 per cent have little or low trust in democracy and its processes.

The global crisis, the effects of which are also being felt in Germany, is leading to a rather pessimistic outlook for the future overall. A good half of German citizens state that they are rather worried about their own future (54 per cent). People on low incomes (72 per cent) and women (59 per cent) are particularly affected. Higher earners (59 per cent) and the younger generation (58 per cent) are more likely to see positive prospects. It is worth noting that the personal expectations of West and East Germans as well as people with and without a migration background hardly differ.

The economic situation in the country is rated as poor by the majority. Three out of four citizens consider the current situation to be less good (46 per cent) or extremely bad (28 per cent). Only just over one in five (22 per cent) consider it to be good, and only a few (2 per cent) very good. This means that the mood remains at a very low level for the fourth year in a row.

Overcoming upcoming challenges

The current unease about democracy is probably linked to the impression that politicians are overwhelmed by the challenges ahead. Only just over one in five (22 per cent) believe that Germany is sufficiently prepared to tackle the major transformation tasks of our time. Just as many are not confident in their judgement, while a clear majority (57%) disagree with this opinion – an increase of 7 percentage points compared to the previous year.

Desire for strong leaders

Declining trust in politics goes hand in hand with a growing desire for politicians who have more power and the will to assert themselves in order to act quickly and decisively – an expectation shared by 60 per cent of respondents.

In this context, there are increasing calls for the federal government’s room for manoeuvre to be expanded in crisis situations such as threats to internal or external security, natural disasters or pandemics. However, a majority of respondents reject such an extension of executive powers. 61 per cent reject government decisions in emergency situations without parliamentary approval. The restriction of the review of parliamentary decisions by the courts is not considered expedient by 76 per cent. A clear majority of 70 per cent also reject restrictions on freedom of assembly and freedom of movement. In all of these issues, the majority of respondents across all parties are opposed.

However, the demand for faster and clearer decisions does not mean a shift towards populist parties. On the contrary: the vast majority (69 per cent) see populism as a threat to democracy. Older people are more likely to see it this way than younger people (74:60 per cent), West Germans more than East Germans (70:64 per cent). There are also clear majorities against populism in all parties, with one exception: the AfD. The majority of its supporters (62 per cent) deny that populist parties or politicians pose a threat to democracy, but 38 per cent agree that populism tends to harm democracy.