Trust in the German government has reached record lows, with the majority of respondents believing that officials are incapable of fulfilling their duties, according to a new survey commissioned by the German Association of Civil Servants (DBB), the nation’s largest public sector employee union.
The survey, conducted by the Forsa Institute for Social Research and Statistical Analysis, found that 69% of respondents believe the state is “overwhelmed” with its tasks. This represents a significant increase from the 40% who believed the state was failing to fulfill its duties in 2020 during the first wave of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The survey also revealed a decline in trust in public officials’ abilities, with only 27% of respondents expressing trust, a decrease of two percentage points from the previous year. Ulrich Silberbach, the head of the DBB, described this drop in trust as alarming and highlighted the need for the state to regain the confidence of its citizens.
Silberbach also emphasized the growing division within German society, attributing it to a lack of leadership from Chancellor Olaf Scholz. He argued that the state should focus on fulfilling its tasks and serving the people, rather than constantly introducing complex laws. Silberbach called for a reduction in bureaucracy and an expansion of services in the public sector to address the needs of the population.
These findings are in line with another recent poll commissioned by Germany’s ARD public broadcaster, which showed that public approval of the current government had fallen to just 21%, down from 60% in 2020.
A survey conducted by the Forsa Institute in mid-July further demonstrated widespread dissatisfaction with the federal government, with 77% of Germans expressing some level of dissatisfaction. Notably, 52% of voters from Chancellor Scholz’s political party, the Social Democratic Party (SPD), were dissatisfied. Dissatisfaction was also prevalent among supporters of the Green Party and Free Democratic Party, which make up the rest of the ruling coalition, with 55% and 71% expressing dissatisfaction, respectively.
These surveys highlight a significant loss of trust in the German government and its officials. It is crucial for the government to address these concerns, rebuild trust, and provide effective governance to meet the needs of the citizens. Achieving this will require strong leadership, a reduction in bureaucracy, and a focus on providing quality public services.
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