A recent nationwide survey reveals widespread concern among the German population regarding the country’s preparedness for the future, with a vast majority calling for substantial reforms. Commissioned by RTL and ntv and conducted by the Forsa institute between August 22nd and 25th with 1,006 working individuals, the poll found only one percent of respondents believe Germany is adequately equipped for challenges ahead.
Seventeen percent feel minor adjustments would suffice, but a significant 82 percent advocate for fundamental changes in the economy, government and society – a sentiment consistently expressed across all demographic groups, including those in both eastern and western Germany, all age brackets and voters of various political affiliations. Notably, 98 percent of AfD supporters endorse the need for sweeping reforms, a view shared by a majority of voters from the SPD, Greens, Left Party and CDU/CSU.
The survey also highlights a strong desire for reform within the social security system. A substantial 86 percent of respondents support reducing bureaucracy in healthcare – through digitalization or consolidation of health insurance funds – against a backdrop of increasing costs driven by demographic changes. Over half (51 percent) favor abolishing private health insurance, particularly younger citizens and supporters of the SPD, Greens and Left Party.
While a stronger financial contribution from higher earners through increased health insurance premiums gains support from 39 percent, especially those under 30, proposals like increased patient co-pays (12 percent), benefit cuts (9 percent), or across-the-board contribution increases (6 percent) are largely rejected.
A unified pension system is considered sensible by 77 percent of respondents. Expanding the contributor base through greater labour market integration (68 percent) and promoting private and company pension schemes (52 percent) also enjoy broad support. Additional government subsidies receive less backing (30 percent), while measures like raising the retirement age (15 percent), increasing contributions (5 percent), or reducing pensions (3 percent) find minimal acceptance.
Partisan differences exist, though the overall desire for reform remains consistent. Supporters of the CDU/CSU are more inclined to support raising the retirement age (32 percent), while AfD and Left Party voters overwhelmingly reject this approach. Promoting private pension schemes is favoured by SPD, Green and Left Party supporters but receives less support from AfD voters. Younger respondents generally exhibit greater openness to new models, but are less receptive to drastic cuts or increased retirement ages.
A substantial 70 percent advocate for stricter eligibility requirements for citizen’s income (Bürgergeld), with nearly half of respondents supporting a significant reduction (48 percent) or complete abolishment of the program in its current form (46 percent). Support for these proposals is particularly strong among those over 45, while respondents under 30 tend to oppose them.
While less popular, tightening requirements for housing benefits (43 percent) and reducing income limits for parental allowance (38 percent) also garnered some support. However, massive cuts to parental allowance (10 percent) or housing benefits (18 percent) were largely rejected, particularly by younger citizens.
The majority of Germans doubt the current coalition government is prepared to implement fundamental reforms to the social security system. Only 13 percent believe the coalition will enact serious changes, while 78 percent are skeptical. This view is strongest among voters of the Greens (88 percent skepticism), Left Party (85 percent) and AfD (92 percent), but also prevalent among supporters of the CDU/CSU (54 percent) and SPD (71 percent).
When considering funding for future state investments in areas like education, infrastructure and digitalization, Germans predominantly favour fiscal discipline. Sixty-five percent advocate financing investments through savings in other areas. Only 16 percent support further debt, 11 percent higher taxes and levies. This preference for savings is particularly strong among CDU/CSU and AfD voters (80 percent each). Supporters of the SPD, Greens and Left Party are comparatively more open to incurring debt or raising taxes, with 39 percent of Green supporters favouring debt and 32 percent supporting tax increases.
Germans largely reject broad-based tax increases to finance reforms. Targeted measures, however, are more widely accepted: 59 percent support higher taxes for high earners, 57 percent for large fortunes and 41 percent endorse a stronger inheritance tax. Broader tax increases on value-added tax (17 percent) or income tax for middle incomes (12 percent) face clear opposition. The reintroduction of a wealth tax is supported by 37 percent, with support primarily coming from SPD, Green and Left Party voters, while CDU/CSU and AfD supporters remain skeptical.
