Among German citizens, 62 % feel that the country is currently unfairly treated. This marks a two‑point increase from July 2025 and the highest level on this question since September 2008. At the same time, one in three (33 %) believes that fairness exists in the country. These results come from an Infratest poll conducted between Monday and Wednesday this week with 1,319 eligible voters for the ARD.
The perception of unfairness differs by income and age. Lower‑income respondents report a 71 % sense of unfairness, whereas high‑income group gives 52 %. Youth aged 18‑34 say 70 % that Germany is unfair, compared with 57 % of those over 65.
Respondents cite the income gap between rich and poor as the main reason (35 %), which is 13 percentage points higher than in July 2025. The second most frequent reason is the perceived heaviness or inequity of taxes and fees (13 %). Smaller shares attribute the feeling to preferential treatment of foreigners and asylum seekers (9 %) or to an insufficient gap between wages and social benefits (8 %).
On who is best suited to ensure social justice, most Germans point to the SPD: 24 % think the Social Democrats possess the necessary competence, a figure that fell three points compared with September 2025 and represents the party’s lowest rating since December 2003. The AfD follows at 16 %, while the Left (15 %) and the governing coalition’s CDU/CSU (15 %) trail behind. Only 4 % trust the Greens, 3 % the BSW, 1 % the FDP, and 2 % another party. A fifth of respondents (20 %) answered “I don’t know” or said that no party is currently capable of delivering social justice.
The commission on social‑state reform, set up by the federal government, presented its report at the end of January. Its most widely accepted proposal-granting EU citizens social benefits in Germany only after they have been full‑time employed there for a longer period-saw a 73 % endorsement, while 21 % deemed it wrong. The recommendation to create a digital portal for all social benefit applications received 71 % support, with only 23 % opposing. Automatic payment of child benefit immediately after birth without an application was approved by 58 %, whereas 38 % objected. A proposal to increase lump‑sum benefits in order to eliminate individual assessments was largely rejected: 71 % considered it incorrect, 23 % correct.
