A sweeping new poll reveals deep-seated anxieties amongst German voters regarding the future of the nation’s pension system, highlighting a growing crisis of confidence in political leadership and policy direction. The Infratest Dimap survey, commissioned for the ARD-Deutschlandtrend, demonstrates overwhelming opposition to proposed cuts to retirement benefits, with 76% of eligible voters expressing their belief that reducing the pension level below 48% of average income would be a detrimental move. Only 11% believe such a measure would be progress.
The sentiment crossed party lines, revealing a unified front against austerity measures impacting retirement. Support for maintaining the current level was strongest among SPD voters (85%), followed by CDU/CSU (79%) and AfD (79%). While the Left party registered 70% opposition, Green party supporters showed comparatively weaker resistance at 64%, perhaps reflecting generational differences. Notably, younger voters (18-34 age group) displayed a less intense aversion (57%) compared to older voters (86% opposed).
Beyond potential cuts, voters also voiced concerns about the potential decoupling of pension increases from wage growth, with 69% opposing the idea. Raising the retirement age to 70 years was overwhelmingly rejected – 81% of respondents viewed it as a misstep. A proposal allowing early retirement solely on medical grounds was met with near-even split (48% in favor, 47% opposed), suggesting a nuanced perspective on individual circumstances versus systemic pressures.
One area drawing broad consensus was the call for expanding the statutory pension system to include civil servants, self-employed individuals and politicians – a proposal supported by a commanding 83% of the electorate. The recently proposed “Active Pension” scheme, which would allow retirees to earn up to €2,000 tax-free per month while continuing to work, also garnered significant support (78%).
However, the poll exposes a shift in perceived competence in handling these complex issues. For the first time in several months, CDU/CSU has overtaken the SPD as the party most trusted to secure Germany’s aging population’s financial security, with 21% of respondents assigning this responsibility to the conservative bloc – up from 19% in September. Conversely, trust in the SPD has plummeted, dropping from 22% to 16% during the same period. The far-right AfD also registered a slight decline, along with the Left party, while the FDP and the Green party remain comparatively low. Alarmingly, a third of voters (32%) now express a lack of confidence in any party’s ability to safeguard the nation’s pension system – a significant rise from September.
The overarching mood, fueled by these anxieties, is one of critical assessment. An overwhelming 90% of voters believe the long-term financial viability of both pensions and occupational retirement schemes is in a precarious state. Similarly strong disapproval was observed regarding fairness – 81% expressed concerns about the burden shared between high and low earners, 79% regarding the fairness between younger and older generations and 78% concerning the adequacy of existing retirement benefits. These findings paint a stark portrait of a populace deeply worried about the future of social security and increasingly disillusioned by political solutions.
