A large majority of Germans support the democratic system, according to a survey conducted by the polling institute Forsa, but they are unhappy with its practical execution.
The findings, reported by RTL and ntv, show that 68 percent of respondents are very or somewhat satisfied with German democracy as defined in the constitution-the political system itself. Conversely, 32 percent are dissatisfied with the constitutional framework. However, the picture changes when asked how democracy actually functions in practice: 41 percent are satisfied, while 59 percent are dissatisfied.
Dissatisfaction with the practical application of democracy is particularly notable in Eastern Germany, where 71 percent reported being unhappy, compared to 57 percent in the West. Among young people aged 18 to 29, satisfaction and dissatisfaction with the practical functioning of democracy are nearly evenly split, at 49 percent and 50 percent, respectively.
Significant differences were also observed among supporters of various political parties. A high proportion of people reported satisfaction with the system as laid out in the constitution: 90 percent of SPD supporters, 89 percent of Green Party supporters, 87 percent of CDU/CSU supporters, and 78 percent of Left party supporters. Among AfD supporters, this satisfaction rate was only 41 percent. Furthermore, when asked about how democracy truly operates, 89 percent of AfD supporters expressed dissatisfaction.
